Itahar (community development block)

Itahar
ইটাহার সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক
Community development block
Itahar

Location in West Bengal, India

Coordinates: 25°27′N 88°10′E / 25.45°N 88.16°ECoordinates: 25°27′N 88°10′E / 25.45°N 88.16°E
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Uttar Dinajpur
Area
 • Total 362.82 km2 (140.09 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 • Total 249,500
 • Density 690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Lok Sabha constituency Balurghat
Vidhan Sabha constituency Itahar
Website uttardinajpur.nic.in

Itahar (community development block) is an administrative division in Raiganj subdivision of Uttar Dinajpur district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Itahar police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Itahar.[1][2]

Geography

Itahar is located at 25°27′N 88°10′E / 25.45°N 88.16°E.

Itahar community development block has an area of 362.82  km2.[2]

Floods in Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpr districts of West Bengal are a regular feature. They destroy the economy, life and property of the people including agricultural crop. A comprehensive plan document or Master Plan has been drawn up but floods continue to plague the region. Mahananda and Sui rivers destroy Itahar every year.[3]

Gram panchayats

Gram panchayats of Itahar block/ panchayat samiti are: Chhayghara, Durgapur, Durlovpur, Gulandar I, Gulandar II, Itahar, Jayhat, Kapasia, Marnai, Patirajpur, Sarun I and Sarun II.[4]

Demographics

As per 2001 census, Itahar block had a total population of 249,500, out of which 127,332 were males and 122,168 were females. Itahar block registered a population growth of 26.58 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the district was 28.72 per cent.[2] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[5]

Transport

The Gazole-Itahar rail track, off the recently constructed (2002-2004) Eklakhi-Balurghat line, is phase 1 of the Gazole-Raiganj rail link.[6][7] The Balurghat-Eklakhi railway line was taken up in 1983-84.[8]

Construction of a bridge on the Mahananda connecting Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur district with Chanchal in Malda was taken up in 1999 but has been delayed.[9]

NH 34 passes through the block.

Health

With the 2008 bird flu outbreak in West Bengal,[10] 16,000 birds were destroyed in Gualadar and Surun gram panchayats under Itahar police station, but some villagers refused to kill their birds and health workers had to retreat from such villages.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Contact details of Block Development Officers". Uttar Dinajpur district. West Bengal Government. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal , Table 4". Census of India 2001, Uttar Dinajpur district (04). Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  3. ↑ "XIII Lok Sabha debates". Session I Thursday, October 28, 1999/Kartika 6, 1921 (Saka). Parliament of India. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  4. ↑ "BRGF Allotment Order No. 5". Government of West Bengal - Department of Panchayats & Rural Development. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  5. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  6. ↑ "Projects commissioned up to 30.11.2007". Construction. North-Eastern Frontier Railway. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  7. ↑ "Rail Budget 2001-2002". indiamart. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  8. ↑ "Balurghat-Eklakhi Railway Line". Press Release, 10 April 2003. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  9. ↑ "Bridge construction hangs in balance". North Bengal and Sikkim Plus. The Statesman, 9 November 2007. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  10. ↑ "Bird flu spreads". North Bengal and Sikkim Plus. The Statesman, 18 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  11. ↑ "16,000 birds culled in". North Bengal and Sikkim Plus. The Statesman, 31 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.