| Saltora | |
| — community development block — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District(s) | Bankura |
| Parliamentary constituency | Bankura |
| Assembly constituency | Saltora |
| Population • Density |
121,810 (2001[update]) • 388 /km2 (1,005 /sq mi) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
314.13 square kilometres (121.29 sq mi) • 153 metres (502 ft) |
| Website | bankura.gov.in/ |
Saltora (community development block) (Bengali: শালতোড়া সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক) is an administrative division in Bankura Sadar subdivision of Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Saltora police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Saltora.[1][2]Government of West Bengal has planned a Special Economic Zone in Saltora.[3]
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Saltora is located at . It has an average elevation of 153 metres (505 feet.[4]
Biharinath, the tallest hill of Bankura District (447.8m/ 1481 ft), and one of the dense forest areas of the district, is situated about 14 km north-east of Saltora town.[5]
Saltora community development block has an area of 314.13 km2.[2]
Gram panchayats of Saltora block/ panchayat samiti are: Bamuntore, Dhekia, Gogra, Kunuri, Pabra, Salma, Saltora and Tiluri.[6]
The soil is undulating, red and latté rite based. Climatically the zone is within tropical dry sub-humid area having rainfall ranging from 1100 to 1400 mm and temperature maximum 45 °C and minimum 10 °C normally. This region is undulating with mounds and valleys. Soils are well drained and are susceptible to soil erosion due to rapid external drainage or run off, soil reaction ranges from acidic in ridges and near neutral in valleys. Agriculture in this region mostly depends on rain. Ground water is not easily and economically tappable.[7]
In the 2001 census, Saltora community development bloc had a total population of 121,810 of which 62,357 were males and 59,453 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991-2001 was 9.81% for Saltora, against 13.79% in Bankura district. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%.[2]
Saltora Bloc had a total scheduled caste population of 41,461 and a scheduled tribe population of 24,214.[8] There are 45 villages with the scheduled tribe population more than 40 per cent.[9]
Government of West Bengal has planned a Special Economic Zone in the less fertile area of Saltora. It has also earmarked certain blocs of Bankura district, considered by some to be a “neglected” district, for industrial development.[3][10]
As the Saltora area is located just opposite, across the Damodar River, to the flourishing Burnpur industrial zone of Bardhaman district, the viability of the proposed SEZ is assured.[3]Steel Authority of India Limited is funding the construction of a bridge across the Damodar, connecting Burnpur with Madhukunda nearby.[11]
The proposed area for the SEZ comprises 126 acres (0.51 km2), out of which 55.16 acres (223,200 m2) are vested and in possession of the state land and land reforms department. Besides the SEZ proposal another 3,000 acres (12 km2) are proposed to be acquired to set up a complete industrial hub. There are hints of political opposition to the land acquisition.[10]
An all-party delegation met the chief minister of the state on 18 June 2007 and demanded that the state government should take steps to invite entrepreneurs to invest in those areas of the district which are lying unused for decades. Subsequently, the opposition party SUC has staged a protest demonstration in front of the bloc development office and the district chairman of Trinamool Congress has demanded ”the publication of a white paper clarifying that not a single furlong of agricultural land is to be destroyed out of the bid.”[10] Comparatively more fertile areas of the state at Singur and Nandigram have seen agitations, even violence, against acquisition of agricultural lands.
Saltora has two colleges. - 1.Netaji Centenary College (Degree College), 2. B.Ed.College.
There is an old temple at the foot of Biharinath hill. With the discovery of Paleolithic tools in the Biharinath area, the hill and the surrounding areas have come into focus of archaeologists.[12]
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