Contents     ·        INTRODUCING THE DISTRICT

·        LOCATION

·        TOPOGRAPHY & PHYSIOGRAPHY

·        RIVER SYSTEM

·        MINERAL RESOURCES

·        CLIMATE  


INTRODUCTION

 

            Graham Greene, the famous British Novelist once remarked, “ there is always a moment when the door opens and lets the future in”. The people of Angul witnessed such a moment on Ist April’1993 when Angul was carved out as a separate District in the redrawn map of Orissa vide Notification No. 14218 dated 27.03.93 of Revenue & Excise Department, Govt. of Orissa. The rich cultural heritage , forests, mineral resources, natural beauty, industrial landscape give Angul a place of pride.  The broad panorama of enchanting hills, rippling streams, mightiest gorge ‘ the Satakosia’ lush green valley, the salubrious climate with fresh air make Angul a different world – world that beckons one to come again and again to get peace, tranquility and joy for ever.

 

To-day Angul is a bustling and dynamic district. The locational advantages, abundant stock of manpower, raw materials have  played  an important role in the   development of the district.

 

The district is named after the district headquarter town of Angul. The name Angul is said to be corruption of Anugola, named after Anu, the last Khond Tribal Chief who was deposed by means of a gol, which literally means battle or plot.

         

LOCATION

 

Angul lies between, 20° 31’ N & 21° 40’ N latitude,     84° 15’ E & 85° 23’ E longitude. The total geographical area of the district is 6232 sq.kms. From the point of view of area it stands 11th   among the 30 Districts of Orissa.
 

            Angul shares its borders with Sundargarh in the north, Deogarh, Sambalpur & Sonepur in the west, Boudh & Nayagarh districts in the south, Dhenkanal & Cuttack in the south-east & Keonjhar in the east.

 

PHYSIOGRAPHY

 

          The physiography of the district is marked by three major regions. The South and Western part comprises ranges of the Easternghat Super group & the Older Metamorphic Group. The Central portion is represented by sediments deposited in the Satpura- Mahanadi graven defined by pronounced NW-SE trending lineaments on a Precambrian plat form, almost separating the Easternghat Mobile Belt and Orissa craton. The northern boundaries of Talcher Basin are faulted. On a regional scale, Talcher basin takes the shape of a north westerly plunging syncline with closure in the east & the younger horizon outcropping progressively towards west. On the other hand, the beds dip northerly & number of coal seams increases in that direction indicating a possible homoclinal structure. Three sets of intrabasinal faults trending E-W-NE-SW-WNW-ESE have been recognized.

 

          The North & North East part is occupied by hill ranges of Iron Ore Super group. The elevation varies from 76 m. to 1186 m.

 

          The highest peak of the district is Malyagiri of Pallahara Sub-division which is 1186 meter above MSL.  Banamadali peak in Angul Sub-division is 790 meter in height. In Athamallik Sub-division the main peaks are Panchadhara and Hingamandal hills.
  

River System


          The river Mahanandi marks the southern boundary of this district.  River Brahmani enters the district through Rengali reservoir  & passes through Talcher sub- division. Both these great rivers have innumerable tributaries large and small. Pallahara & Talcher Sub-Divisions, a major portion of Angul Sub-division form a part of Brahmani basin. The basin of Mahanadi is spread over Athamallik Sub-division & part of Angul Sub-division. Mahanadi and the Brahmani are perennial rivers. A multi purpose dam has been constructed over the Brahmani at Rengali. 250 MW of electricity is generated at Rengali hydropower station. A barrage has been constructed 35 Kms. down stream at a place called Samal. This irrigation project is poised to irrigate 3,36,400  Ha. of land in Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack , Jajpur & Keonjhar districts.   Other rivers of Angul are mountain streams, which are torrents in the rains and in the summer contain little or no water. Their banks in the most part are high. Their beds are rocky and they are not used for the purpose of navigation.
 

MAHANADI

 

          The Mahanadi takes its origin near Sihawa in the  Amarkantaka hills  of Chhatisgarh.  It is  fed by important tributaries like Hadso, Jonk, Mand, Sone, Ib, Ong and Tel. About 8 Kms. west of Boudh & Kiakata.   It flows on the boundary of Athamallik Sub-Division and  Boudh  District. The river changes it’s course from southeast to south near Boudh town but after passing a few kilometer it again takes a southeastern course on rocky bed. After that it proceeds eastward in winding   course and a few kilometer west of Tikarpara into Barmul gorge locally known as Satakosia Gonda. The Gorge is 22 Kms. long and here the river winds round wooded hills, 457 to 915 meter in height, crags and peaks of rare beauty overhang its course on both sides. Total length of Mahanadi is 832 Kms. of which only 77 Kms. passes on southwest border of this district.

 

SANAKARANDI JHOR

 

          This rivulet forms the boundary of the district of Angul and Sambalpur for a distance of 6 Kms. before it meets river Mahanadi near Hilei village of Kiakata Gram Panchayat. Rainwater of the western fringe of the Athamallik is drained to the Mahanadi through this rivulet.

 

MANJOR

 

          Several small hill streams that receive rain water from the northern part of Athamallik Sub-Division combine together to form Manjhor before it meets river Mahandi near village Belapunji under Kampala G.P. A Medium Irrigation Project constructed on this stream near village Manarbeda   is nearing completion.

 

SINDOR JORA OR DHANDATOPA NALLA

 

          It rises from the hill near Solapada area of Athamallik Sub-Division. It flows into Mahanadi and becomes dry in summer. It drains water from the plateau of the eastern part of Athamallik Sub-Division separating Hingmandal hill from the Panchadhara hills. It meets Mahanadi at Puleswar. High floodwater in this river during July 2001 caused extensive damage to the roads and nearby villages.

 

KUTESWAR NALLA

 

          It has its origin in Panchadhara hill and it meets Mahanadi near Haridakotha village under Nagoan G.P. of Athamallik Block.

 

CHANAGURI NALLA

 

          This has small mountain streams. It has its origin in Majhipada reserve forest of Angul Block. It flows through Jamudolli G.P. of Athamallik Block and meets Mahanadi near Karadasingha village.

 

MALIA JORA

 

          This is a small mountain stream having its origin in Kuru reserve forest. It meets Mahanandi near Tikarpada.

 

BRAHMANI RIVER

 

          Koel and Sankha having their origin in Chhotanagpur region of  Jharkhand joins together at Panposh near Rourkela of Sundargarh District. The meeting place of Sankha and Koel is regarded as a sacred  place.   River Brahmani enters into Angul District through the Rengali Reservoir. It meets with its four distributaries nearby Samakoi, Tikira, Singrajhor & Nandira in Angul district. It drains into Bay of Bengal after flowing through Jajpur & Kendrapara district.

 

MANKARA NALLA

 

          It has its origin in Keonjhar district. It is  joined  by its chief tributary called Kakharua. It meets Rengali reservoir near village Debahali. It drains almost the whole of Pallahara Sub-Division and during rains it flows in spate.

 

SAMAKOI RIVER

 

          It has its origin at Kalapat reserve forest area of Pallahara Sub-Division . It receives large number of hill streams like Gaigaria nalla before it flows into southern part of Pallahara Sub-Division and meets river Brahmani near village Gaham of Kaniha Block.

 

ANULI NALLA ( 40 Kms.)

 

          Anuli rises in Athamallik Sub-Division meets madela  at Bhatapa and Luhurani at Dangapal. The other tributaries of Anuli are small Nallas like Bagedia Nalla, Badajora Nalla of Chhendipada Block. It is the  main tributary of the river Tikira.

 

TIKIRA (200 KM)

  
           Its total length is about 200 Kms. It rises from Rairakhol of Sambalpur District and after passing through Deogarh District enters  Angul District.
 

          It meets Gauduni Nalla near Ghantianalli and it enters  Kaniha Block and joins Brahmani near Rangabeda.   

 

SINGHIRHA JORA(115 kms.)

 
        It has its origin in Sarisua hill and flows through Kuskila, Barapada, Kosala G.Ps of Chhhendipada Block and Kumuda G.P of Talcher  Block and meets Brahmani near Balangi village of Kaniha Block. It’s tributaries are small Nallas  like Telikori, Kusumajori, Ghumudia and Bagadia Nalla. Bagedia Nalla meets Ghurudi Nalla at Kankarei and meets Singirha jora at  Kusumupal of Talcher Block.

 

NANDIRA RIVER(56 KM)

 

          Two nallas Mutukuria and Naindra join together and forms the river Nandira. Nandira meets with Brahmani at Dasanali under Talcher Block.

 

NIGIRA NALLA(176 KMS.)/LINGARA

 
        It takes its rise in the hills, which forms the boundary of Athamallik and Angul Sub-Division and joins Brahmani at Khadagprasad near Meramandali Railway station of Dhenkanal district.
 

          The town of Angul is situated on its left bank. It has many tributaries like Baulli (48 Kms.), Matelia ( 40 Kms.) & Matala ( 24 Kms.)

 

MINERAL RESOURCES

 

Coal
 

          The earliest record of exploration in Talcher coal fields dates back to 1837 when coal was discovered at Gopalprasad. G.S.I. took up surface mapping in 1855. The State PWD department sank six shafts in 1875 in Gopalprasad area to obtain 80 tones of coal sample. East Indian Prospecting Syndicate found good quality of coal near  Talcher town in 1920. The Indian Bureau of Mines and NCDC, a forerunner of CMPDIL Ltd. Carried out detailed exploration in the eastern part of Talcher coalfields in late fifties. GSI entered this field for regional exploration in 1963 & are continuing their endeavor. Exploration findings are depicted below.

 

          Coal is the prime mineral resource of the district. The coal is non-coking in nature & mostly suitable for thermal power. Superior coal also available is relatively small quantity is consumed by sponge iron plants, Ferro alloy plants, refractories, cement plants, paper mills, sugar mills steel plants and many other industries. The inferior grade coal is mostly used in brick burning.

 

          As many as 12 workable coal seams of various thickness have been reported in Talcher. The basinal area of Talcher coal field is 1813 sq.km. The total geological reserve has been worked out to be about 36,868.12 M.Ts up to a depth of 1200m, which constitute about 18.7% of the country’s total non-coking coal reserve. Out of this, mine able reserve would be in the region of 9,500 M.Ts.  (Million Tones).

 

Graphite


         Graphite occurs in villages Dhandatopa, Taleipathar, Adeswar, Akharakata, Bhandarimunda, Girida, Sanrohilla, Lanchi, Govindpur etc. of Athamallik sub-division having Fc from 7.46% to 44.4% Detailed exploration needs to be carried out to prove the reserve & its economic viability.

 

Fire clay


         Workable clay occurrences have been reported from Bada Gunduri, Kansamunda & Telisinga near Kaniha in Talcher sub-division. The average thickness of clay beds is 3m & the reserve estimated is 26.05 M.Ts.

 

Kyanite


        In Magarmuhan [ 20 12’43:8521’41] area kyanite bands extend over a length of 1.4 kms. in strike direction having 5m width. It occurs as float with  percentage of A12O3 & SiO2 varying  from 19.02% to 53.81% & 32.84% to 54.07% respectively. The inferred reserve is s6,000 tones up to a depth of 1.5m.

 

Precious & Semi-precious  Stone

 

          Garnet: Reported from Nuagaon-Dasrapara Jaimal- Bandhakani belt of Pallahara Sub-division having Pink/violet, red in colour, max. size-6gm, semi transparent to translucent.

 

          Pink sapphire, amazonite, moonstone, beryl have been reported in some areas of Athamallik & Pallahara Sub-Divisions. Some important occurrences are Karnpal, Gotrei, Langalkhol, Bajrakot, Kendumunda, Kutrumunda, Titrima, Talbahal, Mahulposi, Hinjagola, Chintamanipur, Cherkhandi and Thakurgarh etc.

 

Quartz & quartzite

 

          There are numerous deposits of quartz & quartzite of industrial grade. Some important occurrences are Jarpada, Bairakot, Phulpada, Paranga, Turuda, Krushnachandrpur etc.

 

Dimension Stone

 

          Important deposits of dimension stones are available in village Bhagirathipur, Baneinali etc.

 

Sand used for stowing

 

          River Brahmani is a useful source for supply of sand for stowing in underground coal mines.
 

          Columbites Tantalite occur in Pegmatites at Kangula.

[ 20°47’42”:85°07’35”] Roda [20°49’02”:85°20’52”], Kusumi

[20°50’37”:85°22’20”] Sunakanthal [ 20°39’54”:85°12’28”] & Talabera

[20°58’11”:85°12’28”]

 

          Feldspar occurs in association with quartz at Parang, about 10 Kms. from Angul on Angul – Chhendipada road.

 

          Small deposits of manganese ore have been reported from Talaipathar, Akharakata, Hatsimili, Mahulinali and Taleswar villages of Athamallik Sub-Division.


CLIMATE


         The climatic condition of Angul is much varied. It has mainly 4 seasons. The summer season is from March to Mid June, the period from Mid June to September is the Rainy season, October and November constitute the post monsoon season and winter is from December to February. The best time to visit this district is during winter.

 

RAIN FALL


        The average annual rainfall of the district is 1421 mm. However there is a great variation of rainfall from year to year.    The rainfall in the district during the last 10 years varied   between 896 mm & 1744 mm. There are 70 rainy days on an average in a year, but it varies from 66 at Athamallik to 80 at Pallahara. The distribution of rainfall is also quite erratic causing wide spread drought year after year.

 

TEMPERATURE


          There is a meteorological observatory in the district. The data of this observatory may be taken as representative of the meteorological condition of the whole district. The hot season commences by beginning of March. May is the hottest month with a mean daily maximum temperature at 44 degree Celsius. With the onset of monsoon, early in June day temperature drops appreciably. After withdrawal of monsoon by the 1st week of October both day and night temperature began to diminish steadily. December is usually coldest month of a year with a mean daily minimum temperature of 120 degree Celsius. In association with the passage of western disturbances across north India during winter months short spells of cold occur and the minimum temperature drops down to 10 degree Celsius. The highest maximum temperature recorded at Angul was 46.90 degree Celsius on dt.30.05.98. The lowest minimum temperature was 6.0 degree Celsius on 16.01.03 in Angul and neighborhood are hottest part of the district and have lower rainfall. The summer temperature has shown as increasing trend in recent past.

 

HUMIDITY


       The humidity of the air is generally high, especially in the South West monsoon and post monsoon months. In other months, the afternoons are comparatively drier. In the summer afternoons the relative humidity varies between 25 and 40 percent.
 

CLOUDINESS


         During the South-West monsoon season the sky is generally heavily clouded. In the summer and the post monsoon months there is moderate cloud.
 

WINDS

 
        Winds are generally light to moderate with some increase in force in the summer and southwest monsoon seasons. Winds usually blow from   southwest and northwest directions in the monsoon. In the post monsoon and cold seasons winds blow between the west and north. In the summer months the winds become variable in direction.

 

SPECIAL WEATHER PHENOMENA


         The district is affected by hailstorm and depressions in the monsoon season and in October, when winds increase in force and widespread heavy rain occurs. Thunder storms, occurs mostly in the afternoon in the summer months and in October. The hailstorm, which occurred on 12th April 2002, caused heavy damage in the Angul town and nearby villages. Occasional fog occurs in the cold seasons.                   

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