“spatial analysis of rural settlements in...

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“SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN AHMADNAGAR DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA

STATE: A GEOGRAPHICAL APPRAISAL”

By

SUYOG PRAKASH KULKARNI

SYNOPSIS FOR THE DEGREE OF VIDYAVACHASPATI (DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY)

FACULTY FOR MORAL AND SOCIAL SCIANCES DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY

TILAK MAHARASHTRA VIDYAPEETH, PUNE

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Dr.V.T. GHARPURE M.A., B. Lib. Sc., M. Phil., Ph.D.

RETD. PRINCIPAL MAHILA MAHAVIDYALAYA, KARAD

TAL. KARAD, DIST. SATARA

MAY 2012

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INTRODUCTION

There are many organisms on this planet. In them, human is the most powerful

animal on the basis of his brain. There are has three basic needs of man 1.Food 2.Cloth

3.Shelter. In the primitive stage, he used tree branches, caves or rock-cut for shelter.

After that, there was a change in man’s work with respect to space and time and that

influenced his settlement. That is why his shelter was converted into Hamlet, Village, Town

and finally into city and this hierarchy was mostly influenced by physical, social, economical

and cultural factors. These factors also influenced the distribution, spacing and morphology

of settlement.

The term settlement refers to man made habitats on the earth surface. In other words,

settlement is organized colony of human beings consisting of buildings in which they live or

work or store various things and street on which their movements take place.

The study of settlement has been one of the most significant themes of human

geography. The term “settlement geography” is derived from the German” siedlunge

geographic” (R. L. Singh 1978) which involves the study of visual imprints made by man

upon cultural landscape in the process of occupation. In the beginning various settlement

features bore simpler forms and relationship with the environment, with the growth of

civilization and technical knowledge, the degree of variability in their size, form and

complexity of their relationship became overwhelming greater. This needs for the perfection

of any study and for the understanding of the concerned surrounding environment as a

whole.

Rural settlement as a pioneer habitat of human being is a living functional space.

Rural settlement means a rural space occupied by rural community with their economic,

social and cultural environment. This environment influences the entire rural way of life and

their dynamic structure. Geographers look at the rural settlements as agglomeration of man-

made habitat on the earth which is dependent mostly on primary occupation.

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OBJECTIVES:-

1. To analyze place names.

2. To understand the impact of physical determinants like Relief, Slope,

Rainfall, Soil, Drainage on the distribution of settlement.

3. To understand the impact of human determinants like road and railway on the

distribution of settlement.

4. To study the types and patterns of settlements

5. To explain size and spacing of settlements.

6. To understand the hierarchy of rural service centre.

7. To analyze the demographic characteristics of settlements.

HYPOTHESIS:-

There is an impact of physical and human factors on the development of rural

settlements.

SOURCE OF DATA

This study has emphasized mainly spatial analysis of settlements. For this purpose,

data obtained from the primary and secondary sources supplemented in making general

observations. Most of the secondary data obtained from district census hand book, socio-

economics review and statistical abstracts, Gazetteers of Ahmadnagar District and other

government and private institutes. Primary data collected at the village level with the help of

questionnaires, interviews of farmers and residences of villagers.

METHODOLOGY

Recent years have seen a marked increase in the application of models and many

different descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to the geographical problems.

To examine the influence of some selected physical and cultural variables on the

distribution of settlement co-relation technique is used. For the indices of agglomeration and

dispersion of settlements developed by Bernard, Demongeon, Deboureive and Houston are

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computed to explain the various types of settlements in the study area, Nearest Neighbour

Analysis, Spacing method, use of one-dimensional diagrams, use of choroplath techniques

etc. are used. To understand the pattern of settlement researcher used Google earth image.

Centrality index is computed to determine the centrality score values, which are

worked out by taking into account various functions performed and services. Five decades

census data is used for this proposed research work.

Karl Pearson’s Method of co-relation: -

Σ (x - ̄ x) (y -̄ y) σ x = √Σ (x - ̄ x) / n

r = ---------------------

σ x * σ y σ y = √Σ (y -̄ y) / n

Bernard Method: -

H x A

C= ------------

S²

Where,

C is degree of concentration.

H is total number of houses in the tahsil.

A is area of a tahsil.

S is number of settlements in the tahsil.

Demangeon Method:

E x N

C= -------------

T

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Where,

C is index of dispersion.

E is rural population of the tahsil.

N is number of settlements in tahsil.

T is total population of tahsil.

Debouverie Method: -

H

X= K ------

L

Where,

X is the degree of concentration.

K is constant (0.25)

H is total number of dwellings in the tahsil.

L is number of settlement units in tahsil

Houston Method:-

S x N

K= ------------------

T - E

Where,

K is index of dispersion.

S is area of tahsil.

N is total number of settlements in tahsil.

T is total population of tahsil.

E is total population of tahsil headquarter.

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Nearest Neighbour Analysis:-

_ Rn = 2d √n/A Where,

_ Total distance between points

d = ----------------------------------------

Number of settlements

_ When,

d is mean distance. Rn = 0 Absolute Clustering.

n is number of settlements. Rn = 0.23 Clustering along Line.

A is area under study (KM²). Rn = 1 Completely Random.

Rn is nearest neighbour index. Rn = 2.15 Maximum Regular Spacing.

Spacing of rural settlement:-

Rana R. B. Singh:-

S = 1.0746 √A / N

Where,

S is spacing of the villages in a tahsil.

A is total area of the tahsil.

N is total settlements in tahsil.

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Size of rural settlement:-

P

S= ---

N

Where,

S is average size of population of village in a tahsil.

P is total population within tahsil.

N is total number of settlements within tahsil.

Centrality Index: -

t

C = — x 100

T

Where,

‘C’ is desired centrality.

‘t’ is centrality score of a settlement.

‘T’ is total centrality score of various functions.

Dependency Ratio:-

Number of children + Number of old

below 15 year people above 60 years

Dependency Ratio = ------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of people between 15 to 60 years

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Density:-

Total population of tahsil

Arithmetic Density = ------------------------------------

Total area of tahsil

DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WORK

1. The first chapter introduces physical setting of the region (location, geology,

relief, drainage, climate, soil.), socio-economic background of study area.

(Population growth, population density, cast-wise population, literacy, land

use pattern and cropping pattern.) This chapter also throws light on social

amenities in study area. (Education, medical facilities, drinking water, post

and telegraph, transportation)

2. The second chapter covers the place names which are grouped according to

their relation to various natural and cultural features.

3. Third chapter studies the distributional factors of settlement in study region.

Factors such as Relief, Slope, Drainage, Rainfall, Soil Type, Roadway,

Railways.

4. The forth chapter deals with Type, Pattern, Size and Spacing of rural

settlement.

5. In fifth chapter an attempt has made to identify rural service centers in study

region and hierarchy of rural service centers also considered in this chapter.

6. The sixth chapter gives comparison of demographic characteristics of

settlements in last five decade. It includes population growth rate, population

density, sex ratio, population of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and

literacy.

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7. Seventh chapter deals with case studies of few selected villages. In this

chapter an attempt has been made to highlight the various characteristics of

rural settlements in the study area.

8. The last chapter deals with observations and conclusions based on the study.

Finally the references, bibliography, articles and reports are listed.

LOCATION OF STUDY REGION:-

Ahmadnagar district is situated partly in the upper Godavari basin and partly in the

Bhima basin occupying somewhat central position in Maharashtra state. Its extent is 18° 2’

to 19° 9’ north latitudes and 73° 9’ to 75° 5’ east longitudes. The district is irregular in shape

and resembles a slanting cross with a length of 200 Kms. and a breadth of 210 Kms. It is

surrounded by Nasik district to north, Aurangabad district to the north-east, Beed district to

the east, Osmanabad and Solapur district to the south, Pune district to the west and Thane

district to the north-west. Ahmadnagar district lies in Nashik administrative division of

Maharashtra. (Figure No. 1.1)

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Figure No. 1.1 Location of Ahmadnagar District

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RELIEF OF STUDY REGION:-

The whole district lies on the elevated tableland of the Deccan which has a general

slope from west to east. The western subdivision of Akola, which abouts on the Sahyadris is

the highest part of the district and indeed of the Deccan, averaging 762 metres above sea

level. The plain of the Shevgaon which lies to the extreme east of the district is not more

than 457 metres above the sea. The district can be divided into three parts.

1. The plains or Basins :-

In the north, central and east are the fertile alluvial plains of Kopargaon, Shrirampur,

Rahta, Rahuri, Nevasa and Shevgaon lying in the valley of the Godavari. In the extreme

south there are the alluvial but less fertile plains of Shrigonda and Karjat lying in the valley

of Bhima.

2. The Plateaux:-

Plateau merges into the other often through sharp-crested ridges. These are mainly in

the Sangamner, Parner, Nagar and Jamkhed.

3. The Sahyadri Hill Range:-

The Sahyadri Mountains spread upto 40 Kms. Distance. It is a continuous natural

boundary between the Ahmadnagar and Thana districts. The west view of it is the wall of

rock about 610 to 915 metres high, having isolated peaks and rocky bluffs rising in many

places to a further hight of 305 to 460 metres.

In the Ahmadnagar district, the Sahyadri is divided into three great spurs, i.e.

Kalsubai, Baleshvar and Harishchandragad.

i. Kalsubai Range:-

In the northernmost side of the three spurs, for about 40 Kms. forms the boundary

between the Ahmednagar and Nasik district. Its view from the Nasik side presents the

appearance of a continuous and in many places having a precipitous wall of rock. It holds

series of rockey and very steep peaks averaging about 1524 metres height followed by

Kalsubai (1647 metres) which is the highest point in the Mahrashtra state. In the East side of

the Kalsubai is a natural depression in the range over which winds the Bari pass road leading

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from the Rajor hills to the plain of the Darna River in Nasik district. The next noteworthy

peaks are Palan, Bitangad and Mahakali. There are two smaller spurs which run in a south-

easterly direction, enclosing the valley of the Adula river, branch off near Bitangad and

Patta. The two flat topped hills of Tava 1075 Metres and Raula which lie a few kilometres

north of the town of Akola are conspicuous objects from all parts of the Pravara valley.

Another striking hill is Manbhav 918 metres which lie east of Tava on the boundary between

Akola and Sangamner.

ii. Baleshvar Range:-

The Baleshwar range is the second great spur of the Sahyadris, which branches off at

Ratangad 11 Kms. south-east of Kulang, completely traverses the Akola and Sangamner

sub-divisions forming in the north the valley of Pravara and in the south the valley of Mula.

To the East side of Ratangad there is a series of lofty mountains.

iii. Harishchandragad Range:-

The third range which leaves the Sahyadris at Harishchandragad is the longest in the

district and forms the water shed between the Godavari and the Bhima rivers. It’s direction

for the first 24 kms. is easterly shutting in the valley of the Mula river which flows between

it and the Baleshvar range and forming the boundary line between the Ahmadnagar and Puna

district. Near Brahmanvada the range, gradually decreasing in height, takes a turn to south-

east crosses the corner of the Junner sub-division of Puna and enters Parner which it

completely traverses. The summits of the hills here widen into the plateau of Kanhur.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF STUDY REGION:-

The district is drained by two chief rivers, the Godavari and the Bhima a

tributary of the Krishna.

1. The Godavari River:-

The Godavari River is blowing from the north part of the district. The Godavari is the

most celebrated river of the whole of peninsular India. It raises in the Sahyadri ranges near

Trimbak in Nasik district and enters the district as a considerable stream near village

Wadgaon in Kopergaon tahsil. It flows in a south-east direction through rich alluvial plains

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and forms an almost continuous boundary between Ahmadnagar and Aurangabad districts.

The river has a length of about 200Kms. within the district. The bed of the river is generally

sandy but in many places rocky boulders crop up forming large pools of upstreams, where

fishes are abound, and rapid downstream during the monsoon season the river is full but in

dry season the river trickless down to aminor channel and is easily fordable.

2. The Pravara River:-

The Pravara River rises on the eastern slopes of the Sahyadris between Kulang and

Ratangad. It is an important tributary of the Godavari. It has a length of about 200 Kms.

within the district. The bed of the river is generally sandy but in many places rocky boulders

crop up farming large pools upstream, where fish abound and rapids downstream. During the

monsoon season the river is full but in the dry season the river trickles down to a minor

channel.

3. The Adula River:-

The Adula River rises in the north of Akola on the slopes of Patta and Mahakali. It

blows upto Sangamner plain, turns south and falls into the Pravara 5Kms. west of the town

Sangamner.

4. The Mahalungi River:-

The Mahalungi River rises on the southern and eastern slopes of Patta and Aundha. It

blows towards Sinnar sub-division of Nasik and it re-enters Ahmadnagar after taking a bend

to the south and still preserving a course parallel to that of Adula, it joints the Pravara at the

town of Sangamne. Its flow is seasonal.

5. The Mula River:-

The Mula River rises on the eastern slopes of the Sahyadris between Ratangad and

Harishchandragad. The total distance from its source to its meeting with Pravara at the

Sangam is about 145 Kms. except in the lower part of its course, on account of the great

depth of its bed, the water of the Mula is little used for irrigation.

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6. The Dhora River:-

The Dhora River rises on the slopes of the hills east of the town of the Ahmadnagar.

It flows north-easterly, draining the Shevgaon and part of the Nevasa sub-division and falls

into the Godavari at Paithan. Its total length is 56 Kms.

7. The Bhima River:-

The whole of the southern portion of the district lies in the Bhima basin. The Bhima

however, passes only on the boundary between Ahmadnagar and Pune districts for a distance

about 60 Kms. The Bhima rises close to Bhimashankar in Pune district and enters in

Ahmadnagar district near village Sangavi Dumale in Shrigonda tahsil and flows in a south

east direction. The bank of the river is generally low and the bed is generally sandy crossed

at a few places by rocky barriers. The chief tributaries of the Bhima are the Ghod and the

Sina. Bhima River is having the length within Ahmadnagar district is 56 Kms. The course of

the Bhima is continuously to the south east.

8. The Ghod River:-

The Ghod River rises on the slopes of the Sahyadris in the Junnar sub-division of

Pune. It flows in a south easterly direction for about 80 Kms. within the district.

9. The Sina River:-

The Sina river has two chief sources one near Jamgaon 23 Kms. west of the town of

Ahmadnagar and the other near Jeur 16 Kms. to the north-east. After flowing through the

city forms a part of the boundary between Ahmadnagar and Bid district. It joins the Bhima

River in Solapur district a few miles south of Solapur city.

Besides these rivers many smaller streams intersect the district, but they contain

water only during the rainy season. Little has been done towards storing the water that falls

during the south west monsoon.

GEOLOGY OF STUDY REGION:-

The whole district forms part of the great trap region of the Deccan. Through

Ahmadnagar the trap rock is distinctly stratified and as in the rest of the Deccan, the

alternative beds of basalt and amygdaloid preserve a striking parallelism to each other. To

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the eye they appear horizontal but surveys have shown that the flows have a slight dip to the

east. That intertrappean rocks of the cretaceous system exist may perhaps be inferred from

the limestone outcrop at several places on the west side of the Kanhur plateau a prolongation

of the main spur of the Sahyadris. This is especially noticeable in the glen of Vadgaon-

Darya, three miles west of Kanhur, where the limestone cliffs worn by the falling water

decorated with pendant stalactites and clothed with delicate ferns present all the charming

characteristics of DerbyShire scenery on a diminative scale. At Jategaon further south is a

smaller glen of the same kind. The descent form the summit of the Sahyadris in the west of

the district to the Konkan is precipitous and stupendous escarpments occasionally occur, the

scarp on the west face of Harishchandragad being fully 914 metre high. In such places the

numerous layers form a continuous wall being piled exactly over each other. On the eastern

side the descent is by terraces which often occur at long intervals. In the alternation of the

strata there does not appear to be any uniformity. But the general level, thickness and extent

of a stratum are preserved as in sedimentary rocks on both side of a valley, the basalt and

hardest amygdaloids being traceable for miles in the parallel spurs or ranges, but the

imbedded minerals and even the texture of the rocks vary in very short distances. Frequently

three or four beds of amygdaloid are found between two strata of compact basalt the former

becoming disintegrated leave a slope often covered with evergreen forest forming a

picturesque belt. The basaltic scarp above remains entire or it may be partially buried by the

ruins of other amygadaloidal strata above but its great thickness usually preserves it from

obliteration and its rises form the wood with majestic effect, its black front contrasting finely

with the skirt of rich green. It is these strata arranged in slopes and scarps repeated several

times that, when isolated from the surrounding country constitute the inaccessible hill-forts

of the Deccan. Often when the basaltic flows are columnar they weather into fantastic pillars,

spires, towers and needles as shown in the peaks between Kulang and Kalsubai.

In the face of the hill at Kothul, a small village in Shrigonda 39 Kms. south of

Ahmadnagar there is a thick stratum of close grained gray homogeneous basalt. In the water

courses near Kadus in Parner are columns of basalt of a bluish gray colour, compact texture,

vitreous hue, and sharp fracture. Columns also occur abundantly in the slop of the hills on

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either side of a very narrow valley running westward from the village of Akolner in the

Nagar tahsil.

Sheet of rock of considerable superficial extent and totally destitute of soil occur in

all parts of the district but especially in the hilly tracts. They are intersected by fissures lined

internally on both sides with layers of chalcedony, cachalong, hornstone and semiopal the

innermost layer being frequently composed of crystals of quartz generally colourless and

sometimes, through rarely, associated with Calcspar. These veins together with the nodules

of the amygdaloids, supply the majority of the siliceous minerals so abundantly strewn over

district.

CLIMATE OF STUDY REGION:-

The climate of the district is characterized by a hot summer and general dryness

except during the south west monsoon season. The year can be divided into four seasons.

The cold season from December to February is followed by the hot season from March to

the first week of June till the end of September there is rainy season while October and

November constitute the post monsoon or retreating monsoon season.

The average annual rainfall in the district is 578.8 mm. The distribution of rainfall is

very uneven. The western part of Akola tahsil gets good rainfall and the rainfall decreases as

one proceeds towards east. The district mostly lies in the rain shadow to the east of the

Sahyadries, September is the rainiest month. About 77 % of the annual rainfall is received

during the south-west monsoon season. The variation in rainfall from year to year is large.

Seasonal variation in temperature is quite large from March onwards is a period of

continuous increase in day temperatures the nights remaining comparatively cool. May is the

hottest month of the year with the mean daily maximum temperature at 38.9 ° C. On

individual days temperatures occasionally rise to 43° C to 44° C. With the onset of the south

west monsoon there is an appreciable drop in temperatures and the water becomes pleasant.

With the withdrawal of the monsoon day temperatures increase but night temperatures

progressively decrease from about the middle of November both day and night temperatures

decrease rapidly. December is the coldest month of the year with the mean daily minimum

temperature at 11.7° C. In association with the passage of western disturbances across north

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India during winter season, the minimum temperature in the district sometimes drops to 2° C

or 3° C.

Except during the south-west monsoon season, the air generally dry particularly so in

the afternoons. Skies are generally clear or lightly clouded during most of the year. During

the south-west monsoon season, the skies are heavily clouded to overcast. Winds are

generally light to moderate in force with some strengthening during the monsoon season.

Thunder storms occur during the months of March to June and the September and

October. In association with the monsoon depression that form in the Bay of Bengal and

move across the central parts of the country, the district experiences cloudy to overcast skies

and wide spread heavy rain.

SOILS OF STUDY REGION:-

The soils of the district can broadly be classified into three groups viz black or Kali,

Rad Laterite and the Gray of inferior quality locally known as barad. The plains in

Kopargaon and Shrirampur tahsil have comparatively a good depth of soil. Near the Pravara

and Godavari rivers wide tracts of deep rich lands are found. The soils in the Mula valley on

the other hand are comparatively lighter. In the Adula valley, there is a good deal of fertile

land bordering the river banks. Further up in the hilly areas to the west of Akola, red soil

derived by residual weathering of the Basalts in a tropical humid climate depper on the

slopes than on the levels is found. Near the range of hills that run south-east down the centre

of Shrigonda and Karjat tahsil the land is very poor with occasional patches of good light

soil near Karjat and other places.

Soils on the plateau vary considerably depending upon the terrain and slop

conditions. Over the plateau in many parts of Parner tahsil, the soils though not very deep

have a good admixture of lime. However, on the terraces, the soils are too inferior and the

hill slopes are stony. Fairly productive black soils are seen only in low grounds. In the

western parts of Sangamner tahsil the soils are fertile along the banks of the Pravara and

Mula that develop only in narrow strips. On the hills in the plateau, the soils are friable and

mixed with gravel.

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The chief soils of the entire Godavari basin are kali or black with a variety of

gradations depending upon the local terrain conditions and slopes. The soils, by and large

derived from weathering of basalts under tropical semi-arid climatic conditions are regurs

(black cotton soil). The plains of Sangamner tahsil on either side of the Pravara and Mula,

occur rich munjal soil, a raddish sandy loom and chopan soil which are admirably suited for

garden cropping.

DEMOGRAPHIC STATUS OF STUDY REGION:-

Table No. 1.1 Demographic Status of Study Region

Tahsil Total Population Male Population (%)

Female Population (%)

Akola 266638 50.65 49.35 Sangamner 441439 51.41 48.59 Kopargaon 277170 51.83 48.17

Rahta 288279 51.61 48.39 Shrirampur 256458 51.32 48.68

Nevasa 326698 51.62 48.38 Shevgaon 203676 51.21 48.79 Pathardi 214872 51.25 48.75

Nagar 606690 52.60 47.40 Rahuri 294924 51.70 48.30 Parner 246552 50.31 49.69

Shrigonda 277356 51.58 48.42 Karjat 205674 51.74 48.26

Jamkhed 134216 51.30 48.70 District 4040642 51.55 48.45

Source: 2001 census of Ahmadnagar District

As per 2001 census (Table No 1.1), the population of Ahmadnagar district stands at

4040642 including 51.55 per cent males and 48.45 per cent females. This makes 4.17 per

cent of states population over 5.54 per cent of its areas. Among the 14 tahsils in the district,

Nagar tahsil (606690 out of which 52.60% males & 47.40 % females’ population) is the

most populous. Other tahsils as per their size of population are Sangamner (441439 out of

which 51.41% males & 48.59 females population), Nevasa (326698 out of which 51.62%

males & 48.38% females population), Rahuri (294924 out of which 51.70% males & 48.30%

females population), Rahta (288279 out of which 51.61% males & 48.39% females

population), Shrigonda (277356 out of which 51.58% males &48.42% females population),

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Kopargaon (277170 out of which 51.83% males &48.17% females population),

Akola(266638 out of which 50.65% males &49.35% females population), Shrirampur

(256458 out of which 51.32% males &48.68% females population), Parner (246552 out of

which 50.31% males & 49.69 females population), Pathardi (214872 out of which 51.25%

males & 48.75% females population), Karjat (205674 out of which 51.74 % males &

48.26% females population), Shevgaon (203676 out of which 51.21% males & 48.79%

females population), Jamkhed (134216 out of which 51.30% males & 48.70% females

population). It observed that within the district the most populous tahsil has nearly 4.5 times

of the population to the least populous tahsil.

SCHEDULED CASTE AND SCHEDULED TRIBE POPULATION OF T HE STUDY REGION:-

Table No. 1.2 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Population of Study Region

Scheduled Caste Population Scheduled Tribe Population Tahsil Total Per cent Total Per cent

Akola 011234 04.2 121566 45.6

Sangamner 035652 08.1 041297 09.4

Kopargaon 035316 12.7 027457 09.9

Rahta 046169 16.0 015425 05.4

Shrirampur 048700 19.0 014016 05.5

Nevasa 045757 14.4 015720 04.8

Shevgaon 028002 13.7 003277 01.6

Pathardi 020512 09.5 002712 01.3

Nagar 079151 13.0 010208 01.7

Rahuri 039492 13.4 027913 09.5

Parner 016577 06.7 012074 04.9

Shrigonda 034232 12.3 007401 02.7

Karjat 027820 13.5 002310 01.1

Jamkhed 016071 12.0 001879 01.4

District 484685 12.0 363255 07.5


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At the time of 2001 census (Table No 1.2), scheduled caste and scheduled tribe

population in Ahmadnagar district was 484685 and 303255 including 247545 & 153590

males and 237140 & 149665 females respectively. They constitute 12 per cent and 7.5 per

cent of total population of the district.

According to tahsil wise scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population against the

total population of the tahsil was Akola (4.2% &45.6%), Sangamner (8.1% & 9.4%),

Kopargaon (12.7% & 9.9%), Rahta (16% & 5.4%), Shrirampur (19% & 5.5%), Nevasa

(14.4% & 4.8%), Shevgaon (13.7% & 1.6%), Pathardi (9.5% & 1.3%), Nagar (13% &

1.7%), Rahuri (13.4% & 9.5%), Parner(6.7% & 4.9%), Shrigonda (12.3% & 2.7%), Karjat

(13.5% & 7.1%), Jamkhed (12% & 1.4%). Among these Shrirampur stand first and Akola

stand last for the scheduled caste population. In scheduled tribe population Akola stands first

and Karjat is last in rank.

DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF

THE STUDY REGION:-

As per the 2001 census (Table No.1.3) of Ahmadnagar district out of 4040642

persons, 3236945 (80.11%) live in the countryside and the remaining 803697 (19.89%) in

the urban area. The tahsil wise rural urban status compared with its own population (tahsil)

of Ahmadnagar district was as follows Akola (100%), Sangamner (81.58% & 18.42%)

Kopargaon (74.45% & 25.55%), Rahta (84.32% & 15.68%), Shrirampur (65.39% &

34.61%), Nevasa (100%), Shevgaon (100%), Pathardi (89.38% & 10.62%), Nagar (38.03%

& 61.97%), Rahuri (78.02% & 21.98%), Parner (100%), Shrigonda (90.51% & 9.49%),

Karjat (100%), Jamkhed (79.40% & 20.60%). In the Ahmadnagar district topmost urbanized

tahsils are namely Nagar, Shrirampur, Kopargaon, Rahuri, and Jamkhed. Without

urbanization tahsils are Akola, Nevasa, Shevgaon, Parner and Karjat.

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Table No. 1.3 Distribution of Population in Rural and Urban Areas of Study Region

Urban Population Rural Population Tahsil Total Per cent Total Per cent

Akola --------- 00.00 266638 100.00

Sangamner 81325 18.42 360114 081.58

Kopargaon 70830 25.55 206340 074.45

Rahta 45203 15.68 243076 084.32

Shrirampur 88761 34.61 167697 065.39

Nevasa ---------- 00.00 326698 100.00

Shevgaon ---------- 00.00 203676 100.00

Pathardi 22827 10.62 192045 089.38

Nagar 375957 61.97 230733 038.03

Rahuri 64816 21.98 230108 078.02

Parner ---------- 00.00 246552 100.00

Shrigonda 26324 09.49 251032 090.51

Karjat --------- 00.00 205674 100.00

Jamkhed 27654 20.60 106562 079.40

District 803697 19.89 3236945 080.11

Source: 2001 census of Ahmadnagar District SEX RATIO OF STUDY REGION:-

The 2001census recorded total sex ratio of Ahmadnagar district which was 940

females per thousand males. This is higher than the state average sex ratio of 922 females

per 1000 males. The tahsil like Akola (974), Sangamner (945), Shrirampur (949), Pathardi

(951), Parner (988), Jamkhed (949) recorded higher sex ratio than the Ahmadnagar districts

average while Kopargaon (929), Rahta (938), Nevasa (937), Shevgaon (935), Nagar (901),

Rahuri (934), Shrigonda (939), Karjat (933) are below sex ratio of Ahmadnagar district.(

Table No. 1.4)

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Table No. 1.4 Sex Ratio of Study Region

Tahsil Sex Ratio/ 1000 Male

Akola 974 Sangamner 945 Kopargaon 929

Rahta 938 Shrirampur 949

Nevasa 937 Shevgaon 935 Pathardi 951 Nagar 901 Rahuri 934 Parner 988

Shrigonda 939 Karjat 933

Jamkhed 949 District 940


LITERACY PATTERN OF THE STUDY REGION:-

Table No. 1.5 Literacy Pattern of Study Region

Tahsil Total Literacy %

Male Literacy %

Female Literacy %

Akola 70.0 82.1 57.6 Sangamner 75.5 85.8 64.7 Kopargaon 74.6 85.2 63.3 Rahta 78.2 87.5 68.5 Shrirampur 78.0 87.7 67.8 Nevasa 73.8 84.7 62.3 Shevgaon 70.0 83.1 56.5 Pathardi 70.4 83.3 57.0 Nagar 84.6 91.8 76.8 Rahuri 75.6 85.5 65.1 Parner 71.5 83.9 59.2 Shrigonda 73.4 83.6 62.7 Karjat 71.2 82.2 59.5 Jamkhed 67.8 80.7 54.3 District 75.3 85.7 64.3


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In 2001(Table No.1.5), Ahmadnagar district constitutes 75.3 per cent people of total

population (excluding 0 – 6 age group) are literates. And out of this 85.7 per cent are males

and 64.3 per cent are females. According to tahsilwise literacy rate tahsils like Akola

(70.00% out of which 82.1% males & 57.6% females), Sangamner (75.5% out of which

85.8% males & 64.7% females), Kopargaon (74.6% out of which 85.2% males & 63.3%

females), Rahta (78.2% out of 87.5% males & 68.5% females), Shrirampur (78.00% out of

which 87.7% males & 67.8% females), Nevasa (73.8% out of which 84.7% males & 62.3%

females), Shevgaon (70.00% out of which 83.1% males & 56.5% females), Pathardi

(70.40% out of which 83.3% males & 57% females), Nagar (84.6% out of which 91.8%

males & 76.8% females), Rahuri (75.6% out of which 85.5% males &65.1% females),

Parner (71.5% out of which 83.9% males & 59.2% females), Shrigonda (73.4% out of which

83.6% males & 62.7% females), Karjat (71.2% out of which 82.2% males & 59.5%

females), Jamkhed (67.8% out of which 80.7% males & 54.3% females).

DENSITY OF THE STUDY REGION:-

Table No. 1.6 Density of Study Region Tahsil Density

Sq. Km. Akola 177 Sangamner 259 Kopargaon 382 Rahta 380 Shrirampur 450 Nevasa 243 Shevgaon 197 Pathardi 177 Nagar 378 Rahuri 285 Parner 128 Shrigonda 173 Karjat 137 Jamkhed 153 District 232


Ahmadnagar district has an average density of 232 persons per sq. km. in

2001. Within the district Shrirampur is the most densely i.e. 450 persons per sq.km.

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On the other hand Parner tahsil has a density of barely 128 persons per sq.km. The

density of various tahsils of district is Kopargaon (382), Rahta (380), Nagar (378),

Rahuri (285), Sangamner (259), Nevasa (243), Shevgaon (197), Akola (177),

Pathardi (177), Shrigonda (173), Jamkhed (153) and Karjat (137). (Table No. 1.6)

NUMBER OF HOUSES IN THE STUDY REGION:- Table No. 1.7 Number of Houses in the Study Region

Tahsil No. of Houses

No. of Houses (%)

Akola 48883 06.29 Sangamner 78863 10.15 Kopargaon 51953 06.69 Rahta 54833 07.06 Shrirampur 50044 06.44 Nevasa 63038 08.12 Shevgaon 40934 05.27 Pathardi 42334 05.45 Nagar 120081 15.46 Rahuri 55740 07.17 Parner 47139 06.07 Shrigonda 54133 06.97 Karjat 41037 05.28 Jamkhed 27775 03.57 District 776787 100.00


Total numbers of occupied residential houses in the districts are 776787. Among the

14 tahsils of the district, Nagar tahsil stands first in respect to its number of houses (15.46%),

after that Sangamner (10.15%), Nevasa (8.12%), Rahuri (17.7%), Rahta (7.06%), Shrigonda

(6.97%), Kopargaon (6.69%), Shrirampur (6.44%), Akola (6.29%), Parner (6.07%), Pathardi

(5.45%), Karjat (5.28%), Shevgaon (5.27%) and Jamkhed (3.57%). (Table No. 1.7)

25

AREAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE STUDY REGION:-

Table No. 1.8 Areal Distribution of Study Region


The whole district occupied an area 17410.91 Km² while the tahsilwise area of

district is Akola (8.84%), Sangamner (9.79%), Kopargaon (4.46%), Rahta (4.36%),

Shrirampur (3.27%), Nevasa (7.72%), Shevgaon (5.93%), Pathardi (6.97%), Nagar (9.22%),

Rahuri (5.94%), Parner (11.09%), Shrigonda (9.21%), Karjat (8.64%) and Jamkhed (5.05%).

(Table No. 1.8)

LANDUSE PATTERN OF THE STUDY REGION:-

Table No. 1.9 Land use Pattern of Study Region

Land utilization Area in Km² Area in per cent Land under forest 01708.70 09.85

Not available for cultivation 00585.70 03.40 Cultivable waste 01679.11 09.68

Follow land 01376.16 07.94 Net sown area 12061.24 69.31

District 17410.91 100.00 Source: socio-economic abstract of Ahmadnagar district 2006-07

Tahsil Area of Tahsil Km²

Area of Tahsil %

Akola 1505.08 08.64 Sangamner 1705.06 09.79 Kopargaon 0725.16 04.16

Rahta 0759.19 04.36 Shrirampur 0569.87 03.27

Nevasa 1343.43 07.72 Shevgaon 1031.85 05.93 Pathardi 1214.10 06.97 Nagar 1605.74 09.22 Rahuri 1035.11 05.94 Parner 1930.28 11.09

Shrigonda 1603.81 09.21 Karjat 1503.61 08.64

Jamkhed 0878.62 05.05 District 17410.91 100.00

26

Nearly one-tenth of the total area in the district is under forest. Thus, in comparison to the state as such, Ahmadnagar district is less forested. The forest in the district is of the type “Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous”. They are scattered in sheltered pockets of spurs and valleys situated mainly in Akola, Sangamner, Nagar, Shrigonda, Parner, Rahuri, and Karjat tahsils. The species found in the forests are teak, neem, babul, sisoo, sandalwood etc. Other species such as khair, hiwar, herkal, apta, bar etc. are also found in the forests. However, the district gets revenue mainly from the minor forest products such as bamboo, grass, tendu leaves and gums. These products are supplemented by agave, apta leaves, wawding sitaphal etc. About 3.40 per cent of land is not available for cultivation. Cultivable waste and follow n land is 9.68 per cent and 7.94 per cent respectively. The sown area of the whole district is 69.31 per cent. In it Rice, Wheat, Jawar, Bajra, Sugarcane are the main crops in the study region. (Table No. 1.9)

CROPPING PATTERN OF THE STUDY REGION:-

Table No. 1.10 Cropping Pattern of Study Region

Crops Per cent to total

Cereals 75.47

Pulses 06.32

Sugarcane 06.12

Vegetables & Fruits 02.83

Other crops 09.26

Source: socio-economic abstract of Ahmadnagar district 2006-07 Cropping pattern means the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time.

It changes in space and time. Agricultural land use is governed by the physical as well as

cultural and technological factors. Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of the

region.

The regional cropping pattern reveals that, it dominated by the cultivation of

cereals crops on the total cultivable land in the study area, percentage is almost 75.47. In the

cropping pattern other crops occupy second rank and share 9.26 per cent of total cultivable

land. The third rank was occupied by pulses nearly 6.32 per cent of total cultivable area.

Nearly 6.12 per cent of total cultivable area was under sugarcane. Vegetable and Fruits rank

fifth and occupy nearly 2.83 per cent of the area. (Table No. 1.10)

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SOCIAL AMENITIES OF THE STUDY REGION:-

Social amenities plays secondary role in the type of village (compact type or

concentrated settlement). Higher order social amenities show the high population size of the

village and it affects on size and spacing of the village e.g. High school, Junior college,

Hospital, Dispensary, post services, Bus stop or Railway station etc. In addition, these

facilities are the functions of rural settlement, which give the boost to rural market center.

1. EDUCATION FACILITY OF THE STUDY REGION:-

The Ahmadnagar district is enrich with educational facilities. It holds from Play

group or Nursery to Medical, Engineering and Agricultural colleges up to the date

30/09/2006. The district contain 3262 Primary School,806 High School,152 Junior college

and 41 colleges i.e.4261 educational institutions play an important role in the literacy and

development of the study region. At that time 831967 student were enrolled in various

institutions. Out of them 425785 are in Primary School, 294717are in High School, 71051

are in Junior College and 40414 are in colleges.

2. MEDICAL FACILITY OF THE STUDY REGION:-

There are many types of medical facilities available in the study area such as

Dispensary, Hospital, Maternity & Child welfare, Primary health center and Primary health

sub center.

Ahmadnagar district is enrich with medical facilities. There are 692 various types of

medical facilities available in the district. Out of them 29 are Dispensary, 12 Hospitals, 29

Maternity & Child welfare centers, 96 Primary health center and 555 are the Primary health

sub centers provided by the government in 2006-07.

3. POST, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE FACILITY:-

Post, Telegraph and telephone are important channels of communication. The

communication which is runs from ancient period to modern period always changes its way.

There are 750 post offices and telegraph centres in study region out of it 665 are post offices

and 85 are telegraph offices in 2006-07. The district contains 205346 telephones which

28

affects the telegraph facility i.e. telegraph facility reduced day by day also it slightly affects

on post facility.

4. TRANSPORTATION FACILITY OF STUDY REGION:-

The study region enjoys comparative good system of transportation facility mainly of

private and government vehicles including railways. In 2001 in study region the road length

was 13594 Km. (Figure No. 1.16) and rail route length was 197 Km. There are 439853

passenger carrier and 67253 goods carrier.

Under my Supervision and Guidance KULKARNI SUYOG PRAKASH submits this

synopsis for final Ph.D. work (Thesis) to Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Pune.

Signature Signature of Candidate

Dr. V. T. Gharpure Kulkarni Suyog Prakash Ret. Principal and Research Guide Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Pune

“spatial analysis of rural settlements in...

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