Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2011 - District Profile : Dangs

1. Dangs

2. INDEX
1 Dangs: A Snapshot
2 Economy and Industry Profile
3 Support Infrastructure
4 Social Infrastructure
5 Tourism
6 Investment Opportunities
7 Annexure
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3. 1
Dangs: A Snapshot
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4. Introduction: Dangs
Map1: District map of Dangs with major towns
§ Dangs is a tribal district located in southern Gujarat
§ 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
Girmal
processing and tourism hub
Mahal
§ Saputara is an important tourist destination in the district Ahwa
Waghai
§ Rich wildlife, gardens, ropeway, sunrise point and echo
Saputara
District
point are some of the main tourist attractions in Dangs Headquarter
Towns
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5. Fact File
73.29º to 73.51º East (Longitude)
Geographical Location
20.39º to 21.05º North (Latitude)
37º Centigrade (Maximum)
Temperature
6º Centigrade (Minimum)
Average Rainfall 3,048 mm
Rivers Purna, Gira, Khapri and Ambika
Area 1,764 sq. km.
District Headquarter Ahwa
Population 1,86,712 (As per 2001 Census)
Population Density 81 Persons per sq. km
Sex Ratio 986 Females per 1000 Males
Literacy Rate 59.06%
Languages Gujarati, Hindi and English
Seismic Zone Zone III
Source: Dangs District Profile & Socio-economic review 2006-07
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6. 2
Economy and Industry Profile
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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
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8. Agriculture
Fig. 1 Food Crop Production (MT) 2006-07
§ Major food crops and fruits produced in the
31,300
district are rice, ragi, kharsani, tuver, groundnut,
mangoes, custard apple, and others 52,000
20,400
§ 66% of the agricultural land in Dangs is situated on
slopes, with uneven terrain
Rice Pulses Maize
§ Local traditional crops like ragi are best adapted for
Fig. 2 Fruits, Spices, & Vegetable Crops Production
cultivation in Dangs as it can grow in rain-fed areas (MT) 2006-07
on sloppy land 1,294
§ The agricultural production pattern is slowly 11,359
changing from traditional coarse grains like ragi, 13,165
kharsani, and tuver to rice
Fruits Vegetables Spices
Source: Department of Agriculture, Government of Gujarat, 2007
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9. Forests
§ 59% of the area in Dangs is covered with forestland
Map 2: Wildlife Sanctuaries
(1,062 sq.km.)
§ The forestland predominantly falls under reserve
forests, and is the richest forest in Gujarat
Purna Sanctuary
§ The forests of Dangs are resources for medicinal
plants, such as Mardasingi (Helicteres ixora) and
Dangs
Baheda (Tecome stans microcarpa). Besides these,
Vansada National
Sag (Tectona grandis), Khakro (Butea monosperma), Park
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 Source: Dangs District Collectorate
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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
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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
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12. 4
Support Infrastructure
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13. Road, Rail and Airport Connectivity
Map 4: Dangs Road & Rail Network
Road and Rail Connectivity
§ 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 Distance (km) *
Major Indian Cities Distance (km)*
Ahmedabad 349
Valsad 100 Kolkata 1609
Rajkot 570
Chennai 1278
Mehsana 479
Surat 139 Hyderabad 732
Vadodara 266
Delhi 1111
Jamnagar 660
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 Source: Dangs District Profile Booklet, 2007
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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 No. of villages
Drinking water tanks 167
Stand Post 154
Pipeline 98
Cattle trough 168
Washing facilities 6
Source: Dangs District Collectorate
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15. 5
Social Infrastructure
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16. Education
Education: Table 3: Educational Infrastructure
§ There are 412 primary schools and 32 secondary and higher Educational Total
Institutes
secondary schools in the district
Primary Schools 412
§ The Anganwadi is the primary service centre for integrated child
Secondary
development are present in 210 out of 311 villages
Schools
32
§ A Government Arts & Commerce College is located at the district Higher Secondary
headquarter Ahwa Schools
§ The Industrial Training Institute in the district imparts training in Polytechnic 1
College
diverse areas such as cutting and sewing, armature and motor
ITI 1
rewinding, computer operating and programming assistance,
wireman, hair and skin care, electrician, fitting and stenography Other Colleges* 1
Healthcare: *Other Colleges: Arts and Commerce
College
§ The district has one community healthcare centers, seven primary
healthcare centers, and forty seven sub-centers
§ There is one Central Government Hospital present at Ahwa
§ The district also has one Government Ayurvedic Hospital and nine
Ayurvedic dispensaries
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17. 6
Tourism
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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 Source: Gujarat India Guide
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19. 7
Investment Opportunities
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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 www.indextb.com
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21. Annexure I
Maps Figures Tables
Map 1: District Map of Dangs with Major Figure 1: Food Crop Production 2005 – 06 Table1: Distance of Dangs from Major
Towns Industrial Centers
Map 2: Wildlife Sanctuaries Figure 2: Fruits, Vegetables, and Spices
Table 2: Centralised Water Supply
Production 2006-07
Infrastructure
Map 3: Small Scale Industry Clusters
Map 4: Dangs Road & Rail Network Table 3: Educational Infrastructure
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22. Annexure II : Abbreviations
SSI : Small Scale Industries
GWSSB: Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board
ITI : Industrial Training Institute
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