Chatra North

The Chatra North Forest Division has a total notified and demarcated forest area of 91298.92 Ha.  The range-wise distribution of the forests is indicated below: -

 

The forests of the Division conform broadly to Champion and Seth’s sub-group 5-B, namely, Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests. It is full of a variety of plants Khair, Sal, Salai, Sidha, and other timber species, Bamboo and Medicinal Plants, Herbs, etc, and a wide range of carnivorous & herbivorous wild animals.  In this division, the principal wild animals that are found are Leopards, Bear, Nilgai, Sambhar, Peacock, Wild Boar, and Deer, together with a variety of snakes and birds. Hunterganj Range of Chatra North Forest Division is the gateway to Jharkhand from Bihar.  Chatra North Forest Division has several picnic spots and fountains, waterfalls, and rich flora and fauna.

Some of the Tourist Spots of Chatra North Forest Division

Maa Kauleshwari Temple: – Maa Kauleshwari Mandir is situated near Hatwaria village under Hunterganj Range. It is approx 10 km southeast of Hunterganj Block HQ and the temple is situated on Kolhua hill which has 1575 feet in height. From the top one can find an excellent view of the natural landscape. The top of the hill is quite distinctive and is known as “Akash Lochan” (Sky Eye). There are some ancient temples, the most important of which is a temple of ‘Kali’ known as ‘Kauleshwari Devi’. A Buddha Temple is also situated on Kauleshwari hill and every year thousands of visitors and devotees visit the temples and natural environment of this area.

Kunda Fort Ruins and Mahadeo Math: - The ruins of the old Kunda palace are still found at a distance of about two-three miles from the present Kunda Block HQ. The place might have been created either towards the end of the 17th or the beginning of the 18th century AD.

The walls are still standing though in a very much dilapidated condition, Still attracting many visitors from outside. But the main centre of attraction for the public is a Cave situated about half a mile from the remains of the old Palace probably dug shortly after the building of the Palace. A narrow path runs downwards from the southern portion of the palace and leads to the cave. A shallow stream, which can be crossed without letting the feet touch the water surface, washes the brace of the cave.

The cave is a hollow made at the base of a part of the hill, not so high. The entrance into the cave is very narrow and one cannot get inside without contracting one’s body and bending one’s head. There is a central hall inside the cave, not so high. To enable one to stand erect, often used by visitors as a resting floor. The small hollows connected with their only passage with this central hall, are completely dark. A big Shivling is installed just in the middle of one of the hollows. The other one was used, people say, by a hermit who lived there some fifty years ago, as the sleeping room. On the 14th of Phalgun, a large number of people come to offer holy water to Lord Shiva.

Tamasin Waterfall: - It is approx 10 km from Kanhachatti Block HQ, situated at river Muhane. The word Tamasin is a sandhi of ‘tam+asin’ which means ‘darkness prevails’. This area has mixed forests having high trees making the area dark even in the daylight. There are many attractive and beautiful waterfalls in Tamasin which attract tourists.

Detailed Historical Background

Before 1943, forests in Chatra North Forest Division were looked after by private estate forest officer, at that time, Chatra Division was a part of the forest in the district of Hazaribagh & Ranchi. Then Ranchi Division was created in 1945. comprising all the forests in Ranchi District. Consequently, upon the enforcement of Bihar Private Forest Act, 1947 the management of all the private protected forest of Hazaribagh, Gaya, & Patna District came under the control of Hazaribagh Forest Division.

The historical journey of Chatra North Forest Division is as follows:

• The Hazaribagh Division was created on 01.11.1943 for managing the forests in Hazaribagh & Ranchi District vide notification No. 4754-VIF-40-43R dt. 14.10.1942
• The Ranchi Division comprising all the forests of Ranchi District started functioning from 01.04.1946 vide notification No. 9761R/VIF-106 dt. 19.12.1945
• Chatra and Gaya Division were created in June 1952 vide notification No. C/PF 7011/52-2227R dt. 23.05.1952
• Formerly, Chatra North Forest Division was formed part of the old Chatra Forest Division. In 1962 the old Chatra Division was subdivided into two divisions, namely Chatra North Forest Division and Chatra South Forest Division.

Topography

The division is part of a chain of high land, high cultivated plateau, and sometimes a range of hills. It is the eastern extremity of the Vindhyan hill range. Part of Hunterganj and Pratappur are on plain and undulating ground with an elevation of 800 to 1300 feet (243.8m to 396.2m). A considerable area gives almost a mountainous look though the hills are not of any considerable height.
The important hills are Rajguru 1481ft. (451.3m), Jhumbra 1503ft. (458.11m), Garhwa 1450ft (441.94m), Chandla1384ft. (421.80m), Hemra Pahar 1487ft. (453.81m). Kalhua Hill (1575ft.) is very striking when seen from the north as it overhangs abruptly the low Lilajan valley. 

River System

The principal drainage is towards the west and north of the division. This division has the following 3 well-known rivers of the state viz. (1) Lilajan (2) Amanat and (3) Morhar. Besides these, several rivulets and streamlet drains (nalas) are in the forests. but almost all are seasonal and not a single drop of water is present in them during summer. An exception is the Amjhar Nala which is perennial.

Lilajan:- The river originates from a pond in the broken country near Simaria and flows through a deep and rocky channel until it reaches, the neighborhood of village Jori. There the hills begin to recede and the stream flows sluggishly over a wide sand bed. Six miles (10km) South of Gaya it unites with the river Mohane to form Phalgu.

Amanat:- The river starts its journey from the southernmost part of the division and drains into Palamu district. Several nalas of Kunda Range feed this river.

Morhar:- This river takes its rise from Pratappur Range. This is one of the large tributaries of the river Punpun.

Geology

According to Geological Survey of India, “Chatra North” is largely covered by two groups of rocks i.e. (1) The Archaeans and (2) The Gondwanas.

Soil

The soil varies from deep sandy loam to shallow infertile coarse sandy murram at many places along with occasional outcrops of gravel and rocks. Extensive patches of clay occur in areas adjoining Gaya Division. Erosion is common everywhere.

Climate

The area enjoys the monsoon type of climate characterized by three main seasons- an intensely hot and dry summer season from March to mid-June, a warm and humid rainy season from mid-June to the beginning of October, and a mildly cold season from November to the end of February. October is the link month between the rains and winter.

The heat in summer months is intensified by radiation from the rocky hill slopes that become practically bare through leaf fall. The temperature rises upto 120’F(48oC). During this period a hot and desiccating westerly wind locally called “Loo” blows over the area and frequently causes sun strokes but in the forests the nights are pleasant. From the middle of April to the second week of June i.e., the break of monsoon the heat is most oppressive.

The monsoon breaks during the middle of June and continues till the beginning of October. Pre-monsoon showers or thundershowers occur sometime between mid-May and mid-June. Most of the rainfall is confined between June and September but there are occasional showers also at the end of December or in early January. Usually, in the first week of October, there are heavy showers known as the “Hathia” rains which are of vital importance to the paddy crop of the area.

The winter is generally mild. It sets in during November and continues till February. It becomes severe during the later part of December and the whole of January when occasional forests occur in pockets. During February, although the nights are cold, the days are comparatively warm and pleasant.

Agro Climatic Zone

The Chatra North Forest Division falls in the central and North Western Plateau Zone fo the Jharkhand state. This zone comprises the districts of Hazaribagh, Latehar, Medininagar, Dhanbad, Koderma, and the north portion of Ranchi and Chatra.

This zone is characterized by a humid to sub-humid tropical monsoon type of climate. The average annual rainfall is 1321 mm. Monsoon breaks in the first week of June and continues till the middle of October. Nearly 82.5% of the total rainfall occurs during the period. Winter rains (December to February) are very helpful to rabi crops. Summer rains contribute to about 88 mm.

The soil of this zone is very hard. The physiographic and soils of the Chhotanagpur plateau are mainly lithologically controlled. The Chhotanagpur plateau slopes both towards north and south.

The average elevation of these two stages is between 275-458m. and 550-670m. above mean sea level. These two areas are nearly level landscapes broken by valleys and hillocks or hill ranges rising out of the plains.

Biodiversity

Flora

The forests of Chatra North Forest Division conform broadly to Champion and Seth’s sub-group 5-B, namely, Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests.

According to revised forest types of India by Champion and Seth (1964) they fall in the following types: -

• The forest of this division is classified by Champion & Seth as Northern Dry Sal Bearing Forests 5B/C type & Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest 5B/C2
• The associates in the top & middle storey in 5B/C1 are Shorea robusta, Terminalia, Mahua, Adina cordifolia, Diospyrue tomentosa, Buchannia lanzan, and occasionally Bamboo brake.
• The shrubs consist of Holorrheana antidysentrica Randia spps, Cassia species. Indigofera pulchella, Carissa opaca. Wendleandia tintorla, Woodfordia Fruncticasa, Croton oblongifolius, Zizyphus spps & Phoenix.
• The grasses consist of Heteropogon contortus, Eulaliopsis binata. The main climbers are Bauhinia vahlii, Acacia pinnata, Butea superba Milletia aurculata, Smilax spacies, etc.
• In the type Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest 5B/C2 the top storey has Boswellia serrata, Anogeissus latifolia, Lagerstromia parviflora, Diospyros tomentosa, Pterocarpus marsupium, Sterculia, Cochlopremum religiosum, Madhula indica, Emblica, Aegle-marmelos. Odina wodier.
• The middle storey consists of Bamboo brakes of Dendrocalamus strictus. The shrubs consist of Woodfordia fructicasa. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Zizyphus spp.
• Miscellaneous spp of the forest generally occurs on the southern aspect of the hills.

Further, the following sub-types of the forest can be recognized.

• Dry Sal Forest
  • • Dry sal Forest
    • Sal Rooted Waste.
• Mixed Miscellaneous Forest
  • • Mixed Miscellaneous without Bamboo
    • Mixed Miscellaneous with Bamboo
    • Inferior Miscellaneous Scrub Forest.
• Salai Forest

Fauna

The status of wildlife in the past has been described in fair detail in the District Gazetteer of Hazaribagh by E.Lister, C.I.E. published in the year 1917. Though the description related to the entire district of old Hazaribagh which has now given rise to districts of Koderma, Chatra, Giridih and, it holds good in general to most parts of the North Chhotanagpur Revenue Division of Jharkhand. Chatra North Forest Division being part of it share the wildlife legacy of the past though the variety and number of wild animals found here have dwindled significantly and is now part of the history.

Commonly found wild animals in the Division are, Elephants, Leopard, Striped Hyena Indian Peacock, Cobra, etc and other common animals of the Deer/Antelope family are Chital (Axis axis), Common Deer, Nilgai, and Sambhar deer.

A few more common snakes other than cobra in Division are Indian Rock Rat Snake, Common Krait, Banded, Russell's Viper, and Bamboo Pit Viper. Other Reptiles found in the division are Chameleon, Tortoise, Turtle, etc.

Agriculture System and needs of the local people

The Chatra North Forest Division falls in the interior of the Chatra District. It is mostly free from a sophisticated urban populace. The populace is mostly confined to villages surrounded by forests and the only big town is Chatra, the headquarters of the division. Almost every village in the area is either surrounded by forests or has them in the vicinity. In the absence of any modern industry, the people depend entirely upon agriculture for their livelihood.

The needs of the population on the whole are few and simple. Their main requirements are fire-wood poles and small timber and bamboo for house building and agriculture purposes and grasses and leaves for cattle fodder.

Mahua corollas along with Kend and Piar fruits provide the poorer villagers with a substitute for the main food i.e. rice, during the summer months of the year.

The need for fencing material is very great in this division because of the fact that all agricultural crops except rice have to be protected from the menace of animals both domestic and wild. Therefore, a considerable of fencing material is consumed by farmers every year.
 

Forest Produce and Markets

 

The main market of forest produce in the Division in Jori, Kunda, Pratappur, Kanhachatti, and Chatra these makeshift weekly markets/haats are the special characteristic of this area where traders from other parts of the state reach there on specific dates at different locations with products of common use. The main items of forest origin that are brought to the markets and local weekly hats are enumerated below.
(1) Sal Seeds
(2) Mahua flowers
(3) Mahua Seeds
(4) Karanj Seeds
(5) Palas seeds
(6) Lac
(7) Silk Cocoon
(8) Harra
(9) Bahera
(10) Aonla
(11) Chiraunji
(12) Planks
(13) Agricultural tools
(14) Firewood
(15) Kendu leaves
(16) Gums
(17) Medicinal plants/ herbs
(18) Silk cocoons

Bamboo

Bamboo is surplus to the needs of the local people, Chatra North being one of the richest bamboo division of the state.

Khair

“Katha” is derived from the extract of Khair trees. Chatra is one of the oldest ‘Katha’ producing centre of the state.

Sabai Grass

Sabai is locally consumed for making strings and ropes. It is a local cottage industry and proved employment to the villagers, no sabai is exported to paper mills.

Kendu Leaves

“Kendu leaves” fetch a good amount of revenue. They are utilized for ‘Biri making’ Kendu leaves of Hunterganj and Pratappur are much in demand and are exported to Gaya, Jhajha Bihar Sharif, and Gidhour.

Khajur and Palm Leaves

Khajur and palm leaves are used for the manufacture of mats fan locally.