INDEX. Dangs: A Snapshot. Economy and Industry Profile. Support Infrastructure. Social Infrastructure. Tourism. Investment Opportunities.

Transcription

1 Dangs

2 INDEX Dangs: A Snapshot Economy and Industry Profile Support Infrastructure Social Infrastructure Tourism Investment Opportunities Annexure 2

3 1 Dangs: A Snapshot 3

4 Introduction: Dangs Dangs is a tribal district located in southern Gujarat Map1: District map of Dangs with major towns The district shares its border with the State of Maharashtra and is covered with high hills and dense forests The district headquarter is Ahwa Girmal, Waghai, Saputara, and Mahal are the major towns of the district The reserved forests in Dangs are amongst the richest forests in the State Dangs district is gradually emerging into an agro processing and tourism hub Girmal Mahal Saputara is an important tourist destination in the district Rich wildlife, gardens, ropeway, sunrise point and echo point are some of the main tourist attractions in Dangs District Headquarter Waghai Saputara Ahwa Towns 4

5 Fact File Geographical Location Temperature Average Rainfall Rivers Area District Headquarter Population Population Density Sex Ratio Literacy Rate Languages Seismic Zone 73.29º to 73.51º East (Longitude) 20.39º to 21.05º North (Latitude) 37º Centigrade (Maximum) 6º Centigrade (Minimum) 3,048 mm Purna, Gira, Khapri and Ambika 1,764 sq. km. Ahwa 1,86,712 (As per 2001 Census) 81 Persons per sq. km 986 Females per 1000 Males 59.06% Gujarati, Hindi and English Zone III Source: Dangs District Profile & Socio-economic review

6 2 Economy and Industry Profile 6

7 Economy and Industry Profile In Dangs, 50% of population is working Majority of population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood Animal husbandry and bamboo cutting are the other economic activities in the region There are approximately 100 small scale industries in Dangs Average landholding per household in the district is 1.58 hectares Firewood accounts for fuel requirement of 91% of the households, which is mostly collected from the forests Source: Dangs District Collectorate 7

8 Agriculture Major food crops and fruits produced in the district are rice, ragi, kharsani, tuver, groundnut, Fig. 1 Food Crop Production (MT) ,300 mangoes, custard apple, and others 66% of the agricultural land in Dangs is situated on 52,000 20,400 slopes, with uneven terrain Local traditional crops like ragi are best adapted for cultivation in Dangs as it can grow in rain-fed areas on sloppy land Rice Pulses Maize Fig. 2 Fruits, Spices, & Vegetable Crops Production (MT) ,294 The agricultural production pattern is slowly changing from traditional coarse grains like ragi, kharsani, and tuver to rice 13,165 11,359 Fruits Vegetables Spices Source: Department of Agriculture, Government of Gujarat,

9 Forests 59% of the area in Dangs is covered with forestland (1,062 sq.km.) Map 2: Wildlife Sanctuaries The forestland predominantly falls under reserve forests, and is the richest forest in Gujarat The forests of Dangs are resources for medicinal plants, such as Mardasingi (Helicteres ixora) and Baheda (Tecome stans microcarpa). Besides these, Sag (Tectona grandis), Khakro (Butea monosperma), Vansada National Park Dangs Purna Sanctuary Umbero (Ficus racemora), and bamboo trees are also present The Purna Wildlife Sanctuary and the Vansda National Park present in the district are home to wildlife such as hyena, sambar, chital, barking deer, and monkey 9 Source: Dangs District Collectorate

10 Small Scale Industry Clusters Map 3: Small Scale Industry Clusters Girmal Mahal Ahwa Waghai Saputara z Farm-based industries Bamboo furniture Plantation and nursery development Food-based industries Source: Dangs District Collectorate 10

11 Economy Drivers Forestland provides maximum opportunities to generate sustainable livelihood and employment for the villagers Animal husbandry and dairy production have increased business opportunities for the local population Agro-processing and tourism are the supporting pillars of the economy Plantation and nursery development activities have the potential to generate maximum wage employment The district also owns a few small and large waterfalls, rich forests, beautiful landscapes, and a tribal culture which account for huge influx of tourists in the district 11

12 4 Support Infrastructure 12

13 Road, Rail and Airport Connectivity Road and Rail Connectivity Map 4: Dangs Road & Rail Network Dangs is well connected with Maharashtra state by roads A railway line connects Waghai with Navsari district Table1: Distance of Dangs from Major Industrial Centers Major Talukas Ahmedabad Valsad Distance (km) * Major Indian Cities Kolkata Distance (km)* 1609 Rajkot Mehsana Surat Chennai Hyderabad Vadodara Jamnagar Delhi 1111 Ankleshwar 190 Mumbai 297 Airport Nearest airport from Ahwa is at Surat situated at a distance of 139 km, which is well connected to Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur * All distances are measured from Ahwa 13 Source: Dangs District Profile Booklet, 2007

14 Water Supply Water Water supply for industrial purposes in the district can be obtained from two main sources, viz Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) and irrigation Canals Almost all water supply systems in the district are based on groundwater reserves Table 2: Centralised Water Supply Infrastructure Facilities Available Drinking water tanks Stand Post Pipeline Cattle trough Washing facilities No. of villages Source: Dangs District Collectorate 14

15 5 Social Infrastructure 15

16 Education Education: There are 412 primary schools and 32 secondary and higher secondary schools in the district The Anganwadi is the primary service centre for integrated child development are present in 210 out of 311 villages A Government Arts & Commerce College is located at the district headquarter Ahwa The Industrial Training Institute in the district imparts training in diverse areas such as cutting and sewing, armature and motor rewinding, computer operating and programming assistance, wireman, hair and skin care, electrician, fitting and stenography Healthcare: The district has one community healthcare centers, seven primary healthcare centers, and forty seven sub-centers Table 3: Educational Infrastructure Educational Institutes Primary Schools Secondary Schools Higher Secondary Schools Polytechnic College Total 32 1 ITI 1 Other Colleges * *Other Colleges: Arts and Commerce College There is one Central Government Hospital present at Ahwa The district also has one Government Ayurvedic Hospital and nine Ayurvedic dispensaries 16

17 6 Tourism 17

18 Tourism Saputara, also known as Abode of Serpents, is a hill resort on a plateau of the Sahyadri range of mountains that offers rich wildlife for tourists Saputara Museum contains interesting information about the topography and anthropology of Dangs Hatgarh Fort situated 60 km from Saputara was built by Maratha Purna Wildlife Sanctuary Leader Chhatrapati Shivaji and is a beautiful piece of architecture Gira Falls (3 km from Waghai) is a 30 meter natural drop into Ambika River and offers solace and relaxation Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in the district has the thickest forest cover in the State and is filled with canopies of teak and stands of bamboo Girmal Falls is the most picturesque sight in the district Vansda National Park in Dangs, harbors large mammals including the leopards, hyena, jungle cat, macaques and barking deer. It is also Gira Falls home to the endangered Great Indian Squirrel 18 Source: Gujarat India Guide

19 7 Investment Opportunities 19

20 Investment Opportunities Agriculture Farm based products Forest based products Cattle feed Food processing industries Animal Husbandry Dairy production Poultry Tannery business Tourism Eco-tourism Hotels Campsites Rural tourism * Detailed Sector/ Project Profiles for investment opportunities available at 20

21 Annexure I Maps Map 1: District Map of Dangs with Major Towns Map 2: Wildlife Sanctuaries Map 3: Small Scale Industry Clusters Map 4: Dangs Road & Rail Network Figures Figure 1: Food Crop Production Figure 2: Fruits, Vegetables, and Spices Production Tables Table1: Distance of Dangs from Major Industrial Centers Table 2: Centralised Water Supply Infrastructure Table 3: Educational Infrastructure 21

22 Annexure II : Abbreviations SSI : Small Scale Industries GWSSB: Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board ITI : Industrial Training Institute 22