Jharia (community development block)

As per the 2001 Census, Jharia CD Block had a total population of 475,341, of which 2,839 were rural and 472,952 were urban. There were 258,743 (54%) males and 216,598 (46%) females.[13]

In 2001, population below 6 years was 69,073. Scheduled Castes numbered 81,450 (17.14%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 14,188 (2.98%). In 2001, the number of literates in Jharia CD Block was 299,908 (73.82% of the population over 6 years).[14]

Note: In the data for 2011 census Jharia CD Block is not there.

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand and Urdu has been declared as an additional official language.[15] Jharkhand legislature had passed a bill according the status of a second official language to several languages in 2011 but the same was turned down by the Governor.[16][17][18]

In the 2011 census, Hindi was the mother-tongue (languages mentioned under Schedule 8 of the Constitution of India) of 62.5% of the population in Dhanbad district, followed by Bengali (19.3%) and Urdu (8.1%). The scheduled tribes constituted 8.4% of the total population of the district. Amongst the scheduled tribes those speaking Santali formed 77.2% of the ST population. Other tribes found in good numbers were: Munda, Mahli and Kora.[19]

Jharia coalfield is the richest treasure house of metallurgical coal in India.[20] The Kustore, Bastacola, Lodna, Eastern Jharia and Western Jharia Areas of BCCL are located in Jharia CD Block.

The following collieries function under the Kustore Area: Alkusa, Kustore, Kustore Fire, E/Bhuggatdih, Ena, South Jharia, Burragarh, Simla Bahal, Hurriladih and Bhalgora. Collieries functioning in the Bastacola Area are: Bastacola, Bera, Dobari, Ganhoodih, Kujama, Kuya and C.O.C.P. Collieries functioning in the Lodna Area are: North Tisra, South Tisra, Jeenagora, Joyrampur, Lodna, Bagdigi, Jealgora and Bararee. Collieries functioning in the Eastern Jharia Area are: Bhowrah North, Bhowrah South, Bhowrah (OC 3 Pit), Amlabad, Sudamdih Incline, Sudamdih Shafts, Pathardih and C.O.C.R. Collieries functioning in the Western Jharia Area are: Lohapatty, Murulidih 20/21, Bhatdee and Moonidih.[21] The Bastacola Area is amalgamation of thirty-three mines of the pre-nationalisation era. It presently has four underground and four open cast mines.[22] The Lodna Area has mineable reserves of 46.368 million tonnes of coking coal and 618.6 million tonnes of non-coking coal.[23] Western Jharia Area is a predominantly underground mining area, presently with four underground mines.[24] Underground mining in the Eastern Jharia Area has been going on for about a century. Primitive mining methods used by private mine owners at shallow depths in the pre-nationalised era has led to large scale fires.[25]

km km Barkakana–Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh line to Barkakana 0 Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh–Hatia line to Bokaro 0 Asansol–Gaya section to Gaya 50 0 N.S.C Bose Gomoh Chandrapura 34 17 5 Kochargara Chandrapura TPS 9 Telo Patrakulhi Colliery Dugda Halt 30 44 Khario Halt Dugda Coal Washery KKC main siding Dhanbad-Chandrapura line 39 Khanudih Jamunia River KKC link siding Jamuniatanr Halt 27 37 Benidih Jamuni Halt 24 22 Phulwartanr Adra-Gomoh line 21 Budora Halt Tundu Colliery Jamuniatand 38 18 Tundu Halt Kharkhari 35 24 Ramakunda Halt Mucheraidih 32 Malkera–Kharkhari defunct loop line Mahuda Junction 30 20 Matari Murulidih Colliery 17 Sonardih Halt Asansol–Tatanagar– Kharagpur line to Talgaria 0 15 Nichitpur Moonidih Colliery 14 Tentulia Malkera 24 Dhanbad–Chandrapura line Malkera-Katrasgarh defunct colliery line Katrasgarh 13 Salanpur Colliery Angarpathra Halt 11 Sijua 10 Dhanbad–Gomoh line Bansjora 08 Baseria Halt 06 9 Tetulmari Kendua Colliery Kusunda 04 4 Bhuli Block Hut Dhanbad–Jharia line former diamond crossing Kusunda–Jharia branch line (dismantled) 0 Dhanbad Adra–Gomoh line 5 Dokra Halt Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line to New Giridih (under construction)   9 Pradhankhunta Junction TSBD Colliery Asansol–Gaya section to Asansol Tata Sijua 20 Kankanee Colliery Pradhankhunta–Pathardih line Layabad 18 14 Rakshitpur Layabad Coking plant Dhanbad–Jharia–Pathardih line (dismantled) K.S.T. siding 2 Dhansar Halt Karkend 16 4 Bastakulha Halt Pootkee Colliery 6 Nayakanali Halt Bhaga Goods Shed 7 Jharia Bhaga 10 8 Kujama Halt Ballihari Colliery 9 Lodna Jitpur Colliery 10 Bagdigi Halt 11 Barari Bazar Halt Jamadoba Halt 07 Barari Colliery C.K. Siding JBO Washery Patherdih–Rakshitpur loop under construction Mohalboni 06 22 Sindri Block Hut 14 Patherdih Bazar Bhowrah 04 16 3 Patherdih Junction Pathardih Washery Sudamdih Washery Chasnalla Colliery 25 Sindri Marshalling Yard Sudamdih 00 27 Sindri Town Asansol–Tatanagar– Kharagpur line to Bhojudih 0 Sindri FCI siding km km

Sources: [26] [27]

Dhanbad district has infertile laterite soil, having a general tendency towards continuous deterioration. The soil can be classified in two broad categories – red sandy soil and red and yellow soil. There are patches of alluvium along the river banks. Limited water resources constitute a major constraint for cultivation. Paddy is the main crop. The soils for rice cultivation fall into three categories – baad, kanali and bahal. Aghani, is the main winter crop, consisting primarily of winter rice. Bhadai is the autumn crop. Apart from paddy, less important grain crops such as marua and maize are grown. The Rabi crop includes such cold weather crops as wheat, barley, oats, gram and pulses.[28][29]

Dhanbad district is listed as a backward region and receives financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The fund, created by the Government of India, is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. As of 2012, 272 districts across the country were listed under this scheme. The list includes 21 districts of Jharkhand.[30][31]