The present Lohardaga Forest Division was formerly known as Ranchi West Division. Ranchi West Division was created vide notification No. C/F I(A)-14/64- 398R dated 22.02.1965 and started functioning since 01.04.1965 with head quarters at Ranchi. Again by Government notification no Gra-Bhumi 7/90426 dated 29.09.1990 the Headquarter has been shifted to Lohardaga and from 02.02.1991 it started functioning from Lohardaga. After creation of Jharkhand State this division again reorganised vide govt of Jharkhand Notification No 1/2003-250 dated 17.01.2004 with 3 Range namely Lohardaga, Banari and Kuru.
Lohardaga Forest Division is situated between 20030’ to 23040’ North latitude and from 84040’ to 84040’East Longitude. Northside of Lohardaga division touches boundaries of Latehar Forest Division and Palamu Tiger Reserve area. Southside and west side is situated Gumla Forest Division and Eastside is surraounded by Ranchi Forest Division. The entire present Lohardaga Forest Division is divided into three forest Ranges as follows :
| Sl. No. |
Name of Range |
Forest area in Ha. |
| 1 |
Lohardaga Forest Range |
26158.71 Ha |
| 2 |
Banari Forest Range |
29170.80 Ha |
| 3 |
Kuru Forest Range |
6419.18 Ha |
| |
Total |
61748.69 Ha |
Geography :
The configuration of the ground varies considerably from 3504’ to 700’ above MSL. Towards west & south it is hilly and in east side have the lowest topography are Kuru and Lohardaga. Plateau formation locally known as ‘Pat’ is the most striking topographical feature of the tract and is found on almost all the hills in smaller or larger extent. Pakhar, Bagru, Kekrang, Salaiya, Dumarpat, Tuimu and Maduapat of tract are infact the seat of bauxite deposits on their frings.
Contact Us:
Abhishek Kumar, IFS
DFO, Lohardaga
8294935789
dfo-lohardaga[at]gov[dot]in
River System – There are 3 Principal River systems which drains through Lohardaga Forest Division.
- River South Koel – Although the river originate in Ranchi District outside Lohardaga Division its drains maximum area in Lohardaga division. It enters Mander Block at Buski and west ward up to Bagha near Lohardaga then it takes south and further west turn draining Senha and Ghaghra Block and enters Gumla division for its forward journey. The main tributaries of the river are Nandini, Kandhuni, Sankh, Kanaria and Anandi.
- River North Koel – this river originates in Gumla district and enters in Lohardaga division along salami RF. It drains the western part of division from Dardg to Nirasi. It meets the western boundary of Lohardaga division with Daltonganj South Division. Its main tributaries are Fuljhar, Ghaghra and Chaupat rivers. The river Ghaghra originates from Serendag from a spring near Bhaisa Bathan and meets the river koel. It also has a fall of 60m in Nindi Forest.
- River Damodar – Although this river originates in Lohardaga Forest Divisin at Chulhapani it enters immediately in Latehar Forest Division. It forms the northern most boundary of the division. Its main tributaries are Chatti Nala and Sapa Nala.
Geology, Rock and Soil
The rock formation of Lohardaga Forest Division are Alluvium, Laterite, Decan trap Infra, Newer Dolerite, Lamprophyre, Hybrid rocks, Pegmatite, Graphic granite, Alpine quartz-Micapegma titex and Quartz tourmaline rock, Diorite, granite and gneisses, Ultrabasic igneous, Metamorphic solists and Phyllies.In Lohardaga Forest Division Bauxite ore is found in abundance besides few amount of Asbestos, Barytes, Clays & lime stone.
- Land Use – The total geographical area of Lohardaga division is 1491 sq.km. In Lohardaga division only 29% of total area is under cultivation while forest contributes 22% of total geographical area. Kisko block has larger forest area 52% while Bhandara block has the lowest forest area 3%.
- Climate – The division experience warm humid climate with three well defined season i.e, Summer, Winter, and Monsoon. The winters commence from middle November and extends up to middle of March. December is the coldest month. During winter, the temperature goes down to 40c. Summer starts from middle of March and continues up to middle of June, when the temperature shoots up 420c.
- Rainfall – The monsoon sets in by the middle of June and continue till the middle of October. The annual normal rainfall in the district is 1137 mm. 83.5% of total rainfall occurs during the monsoon months only i.e, middle of June to middle of October. The district experiences maximum precipitation in July.
Forest Types and Classification –
(Champion and Seth’s 1968) classified the forests of Lohardaga Forest Division as the following types and sub-types :-
- Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests.Spinarum, Ziziphus oenoplia, Ziziphus jujube. It has two sub-types Dry Peninsular Sal- Type 5B/C 1C and Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest-Type 5B/62.
- Degraded Stage of Dry Deciduous Forests. It has one sub-types. Dry Deciduous Scrub-Type DE I.
- Bamboo Brakes.
- Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest
Mainly Sal and miscellaneous forest are present in abundance with few patches of Bamboo species.
7. Main Works Executed
Besides regular patrolling work to check illegal felling and transportation of forest produce and to check wildlife hunting or theft, Plantation Activities, Construction of Checkdam , Briquetting Plant, Fire Fighting and Awareness Programmes ,Training and livelihood programmes have been done.