chapter – iii history, geogrphy and population of the...

36
91 CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE STUDY AREA History of Study area a. History: The present study has been conducted in the City of Guwahati, the gate way to the Northeast India, which is the nerve centre of its neighboring seven States of India, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and Sikkim; Sikkim has however not included here in respect of the current study. Guwahati represents the legendary Pragjyotishpur, the City of Eastern Astrology. It is situated on the southern bank of the mighty River Brahmaputra and was a famous centre of learning of astrology in ancient time. The City has a rich past and has frequent mention in the two epics- theMahabharatand theRamayana other classics theRaghubansha of Kalidas. The mythological history, narrated in Kalika Puran and

Upload: others

Post on 11-Jun-2020

3 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

91

CHAPTER – III

HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

OF THE STUDY AREA

History of Study area

a. History:

The present study has been conducted in the City of Guwahati, the gate way to

the Northeast India, which is the nerve centre of its neighboring seven States of India,

namely Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and

Sikkim; Sikkim has however not included here in respect of the current study.

Guwahati represents the legendary Pragjyotishpur, the City of Eastern Astrology. It is

situated on the southern bank of the mighty River Brahmaputra and was a famous

centre of learning of astrology in ancient time. The City has a rich past and has

frequent mention in the two epics- theMahabharatand theRamayana other classics

theRaghubansha of Kalidas. The mythological history, narrated in Kalika Puran and

Page 2: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

92

Vishnu Puran, stated that this place was known as Pragjyotishpur which was the

capital of Kamrup reigned by legendary Ashur King Naraka, the King of Ashur

Dynasty and also by King Naraka, a prince from Mithila. The famous Kamakhya

Templof the 10thPithas of South Asia is the one of places of pilgrimage for the

Hindus. In course of time, King Kumar Bhashkar Varman (594-650 AD) was the

great king of Varman Dynasty and he made the place more famous in culture and

literature. The Chinese Pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited Kamrup during his time (640 AD)

and he described this place as the capital of Kamrup.

The Gauhati (now Guwahati) witnessed numbers of battles from first Mughal

invasion of Kamrup in 1206 AD to the battle of Itakhuli in 1682 AD. During the

period from 1603 to 1682 AD it had been occupied by many forces in many times.

The Saraighat battle was fought in the outskirt of Guwahati at that time. After the

victory of Ahom king in 1667 AD, it became the Head Quarter of Barphukana and it

extended to the North bank of Brahamaputra River.

b. The Naming of Guwahati City:

As perChoudhury (1967), it was mentioned as Guahati or Guahata from16th

to17th Century. Several European writers spelt it differently in 19th Century like

Gwahatti by Hemilton, Goahawtee by Wade, Gowhatty by Mills. Martin-1837

(reprint 1976) as Gohati, Cosh (1837) mentioned it as Gohatti, and Robinsion (1841)

(reprint 1975) as Gowhati. However, as per Bora (1985), the present name Guwahati

is derived from two Assamese word ‘Guwa’ means areca nut and ‘hati’ means

locality. The word ‘hati’ was also used by Mahapurush Shri Shri Sankardev long back

Page 3: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

93

in 15th century AD in Assam to understand and to locate a specific area surrounding

the Namghar, the community prayer hall developed by Shri Shri Sankardev.

c. Administrative hub of British Ruler:

Till 1874, the erstwhile Assam was administered by a Commissioner under the

Government of Bengal and was stationed at Guwahati, after separation from

Government of Bengal, the head quarter of Assam Province, called as capital, was

shifted from Guwahati to Shillong in 1874, however, the office of the Commissioner

and Judges of the Assam valley districts remained at Guwahati (Gait, 1997) and it was

the capital of Kamrup District extending from Barnadi River in the east to Manas

River in west. The road passing through the city is south trunk road which had been

connected to Dhansiry River in 1842-43. This road subsequently was known as North

Trunk Road from middle of 19th century. Gauhati (now Guwahati) became important

during British reign because of its good river transportation and rail communication

connecting from Dibrugarh to Dhakka and to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1861 and

Chittagong port in 1905 (Gait, 1997).

Geographyof Study Area:

The Guwahti City (26º6´ 88˝ N to 26˚10´ 45˝ N and 91˚40´89˝ E to 91˚ 45´00

E), the gate-way to Northeast India, having previously 60 numbers of wards, has

.presently resized into 31 wards with a population of 9,68,549 (Census of India,

2011:15-16) having sex ratio of 916 females per 1000 males and the literacy rate is

92.88% for male and 89.19% for female (combined being 91.12%). The areas and

population of the City have time to time changed.

Page 4: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

94

a. Boundaries of Gauhati City:

The Under Secretary to the Government of Assam, (1973) has notified the

boundaries of Gauhati City as under:

North: The central line of Brahmaputra River from the western village Dehangiri

to the eastern boundary of clearance Garden.

South: The southern boundary of Pachim Baragaon, Pub Baragaon, Dholbama,

Betkuchi, Sarusajai, Barsajai, and thence along the western and south eastern

boundaries of theBasistha Grant, South eastern boundaries of Maidangaon

and thence along the southern boundary of Khanapara N.C.

East: Eastern and part of the northern Boundaries of Khanapara N.C. and thence

along the eastern boundaries of Ghasarbar N.C. Bagharbari, Satgaon (

excluding Cant area) and hence along the middle of the Kalita kuchi gaon

(excluding the cantonment area) andthence along the eastern boundaries of

the Birkuchi, Noonmati Garden and Clearance Garden.

West: From the point where the stream Khanajan meets the Brahmaputra River and

thence along the Central line of the Khanajan and the western boundaries of

Dehangirigaon, Kachari Garigaon, Pachim Jalukbari and thence along the

southern boundaries of Dakhin Jalukabari and Tateligaon.

In reference to the discussion had with the Additional Commissioner,

Guwahati Municipal Corporation, on 29.04.2011, the boundaries of the Guwahati City

under the Municipal Corporation are:

North: Central line of the Brahmaputra River.

South: Meghalaya State Boarder along the Hills side.

Page 5: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

95

East: Bonda , Satgaon to Khanapara including Narengi Army Cantonment.

West: Central Line of Khanajan from Khanajmukh to Deepar Beel.

North-Guwahati, Dharapur, Azara and Borjhar of western boundary and CRPF

Cantonment at Amerigog of eastern boundary fall outside the notified Guwahati City

Area.

On the basis of the approval of the Assam Government vide Govt. Order No.

GDD.91/1997/395 dated 09/06/2009; the Guwahati Metropolitan Development

Authority declared the areas under Greater Guwahati for New Master Plan and Zoning

Regulation 2025 vide their Notification No. GMDA/MP/ 1/98/Part-I /103 dated, 7th

July, 2009, as follows:

1.Approximate area: Existing Master Plan and Guwahati

Metropolitan Area- 262 Sq. Kms.

2. Approximate new Area: 66 Sq. Kms.

3. Approximate total Area: 328 Sq. Kms.

b.Area and Wards:

In 1955-56, there was 10 numbers of wards in the then Gauhati Municipal

Board and the wards numbers are gradually increased to 34 numbers along with the

constitution of Corporation as Gauhati Municipal Corporation from 1974 and

subsequently there were 60 Nos. of Wards till to December 2012, which had the area

about 216.79 Sq. Kms. in 1991 and the Metropolitan Guwahati City covers the area of

262 Sq. Kms. in 2009. The Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre 1991 (2005)

has identified an area of 313 Sq. Kms. (1990) and 354 Sq. Kms. (2002) covering the

Page 6: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

96

Table # 3.01: Allocation of Places in New Wards of Guwahati City, 2013.

Sl, No

New Ward Number

Name of Places included in the New Ward Numbers of voters

1 1 Jalukbari, Garigaon, Sadilapur, Tetelia, Gotanagar 22,619*

2 2 Greater Pandu area 18,955* 3 3 Pandu Rest Camp, Water Plant Temple Ghat Colony 18,358*

4 4 Maligaon part, Adabari 16,549

5 5 Kamakhya town, Kalipur 25,698

6 6 Maligaon part, Gosala, Durga Sarobor, Santipur 24,330

7 7 Manbari, Jyotikuch, Betkuchi, Pachim Baragaon 28,453

8 8 Maligaon part, Gotanagar part, Pub Baragaon 16,731

9 9 Bhutnath, Kumarpara, Athgaon, Machkhowa 21,336

10 10 Chatribari, Tokobari, Fancy Bazar, Krishnanagar 18,544* 11 11 Pnbazar, Lotasil, Ambari, Paltan Bazar, Lakhtokia 19,572

12 12 Uzan Bazar, Chenikuthi, Barowari, Kharghuli, Hydatpur 18,843*

13 13 Nabagrah, Chandmari part, Milanpur, Nizarapar 21,621*

14 14 Gandhibasti, Silpukhuri, Lachitnagar, South Sarania, Rajgarh 17,362

15 15 Rehabri, Billpar, Manipuri Basti, Solapara 22,584

16 16 Bishnupur, Natun Basti, Bimalanagar, Mahenda Nagar, Sankarpur

19,526*

17 17 Fatasil, Bhaskar Nagar, Barasapara, Dhirenpara 18,216

18 18 Kahilipara Part, Latuma, Christian Bastee, Udalbakra, Jatia, Udayachal, Kachari Basti

20,860

19 19 Ulubari, Kachari Basti, Rupnagar, Birubari, Medical College area

19,657

20 20 Lachit Nagar, Sreemantapur, Ganeshguri, Bhangagarh 24,752

21 21 Ambikagiri Nagar part, Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Sundarpur, Manik Nagar, Japorigog, Kalyanpur,

24,956

22 22 Chandmari part, Milanpur, Bhashkar Nagar part, Narikol Basti. 26,113

23 23 Jyotinagar part, Sunsali, Ananda Nagar, Bapuji Nagar, Salabari, Knduguri

21,043

24 24 Jyoti Nagar part, Bamunimaidan, Sector No2, Jayanta Nagar, 31,737

25 25 Kushal Nagar, Gita Nagar, Mathghoria, Forest Gate, Kamala Bagan, Naregi, Birkuchi, Bonda

28,822

26 26 Hengerabari, Sarumataria, Satgaon, 29428

27 27 Rukminigaon, Bar Mataria, Capital Complex, Hatigaon part, Beltola, Basisthapur,

31,109*

28 28 Dakshingaon, Bhetapara, Sarusajai, Barsajai, Saukuchi, 18,112

29 29 Kahilipara part, Hatigaon part, Sijubari, Natboma 23,234 30 30 Khanapara, Barmatoria, Bakrapara, Basishtha part, 29,409

31 31 Hengerabari part, Dwarandha, Bagharbori, Khanapara part, 30,320 Total 31 Entire Gauhati Municipal Corporation 706,689

Source: * As per Asomiya Pratidin (in Assamese vernacular) dated 18.06.2013. Dainik Asam (in Assamese vernacular), dated 28.05.2013 to 19.06.2013.

Page 7: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

97

Greater Guwahati.As per Dainik Asam in Assamese vernacular dated 13.12.2009, the

area of the then Gauhati was 7.68 Sq. Kms. in 195, 14.00 Sq. Kms. in 1961, 43.82 Sq.

Kms. in 1971.

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation has very recently (Niyomiya Barta in

Assamese vernacular, dated 26.12.2012) reduced the numbers of wards to 31 in place

of earlier 60 numbers of wards to facilitate the election procedures in the City and this

has been notified by the Guwahati Development Department, Assam. Each ward has

further subdivided into 2 to 4 Area Shabha for administrativeconvenience totaling to 90

numbers of Area Shabha under Gauhati Municipal Corporation (Table #3.01).The last

Municipal Election for Area Shabha Member, Ward Commissioner and Paurapati

(Mayor) was held on 19.06.2013.

c. Hills:

The Grater Guwahati covers 18 hills with green trees and forests, colored (Gray

to white) land and stones. Some of them are – (1) Nilachal Pahar 193m high, (2)

FatasilPahar 292m, (3) Japrigog Pahar 277m, (4) Narengi Pahar 240m, (5) Silapahar

220m, (6) Kharghuli Pahar 216m, (7) Chunsali Pahar 293m, (8) Udayachal Pahar

160m, (10) Sanaghuli Pahar 145m high and the central part of the city has small

hillocks namely (11) Sarania hill 193m, (12) Navagraha Pahar 217m (13) Narakashur

Pahar, (GMDA, 2009) (14) Chiriyakhana Pahar (15) Kailashpur Tila 162m and

others, the rest of the city covers the plain areas ranging from 45m to 55.5m high

above mean sea level with low land at Boragaon, Jalukbari, Tetelia. As per State Soil

Conservation Department, Assam (2012), 18 hills in the city are now bursting with

population of 1.23 lakhs (2001 Census). There are as many as 75 villages in the hills,

Page 8: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

98

consisting of 26,985 households, of these 8681are permanent structure, while 7510 and

10794 are semi-permanent and temporary structure respectively. The unremitting

deforestation, earth cutting, haphazard construction of houses, innumerable roads and

footpaths on the steep slopes have led to disastrous consequences-erosion, killer

landslides, artificial floods, water logging, and construction of temporary and

permanent structure have left a permanent scar on the hill landscape.

d. Climatic Condition:

The climatic condition i.e. temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, flood and

drought situation in the urban center prevented pavement dwellers, but slums and

squatter settlers have to depend largely on their own resources to have a house for

shelter in the prevailing climatic condition. The climate of the study area has wide

range of temperature which has normally minimum in the month of December and/or

January and maximum in the month of June and/or July every year. The humidity of

the State of Assam is always comparatively higher next to Meghalaya and Arunachal

Pradesh of North East India. The Relative Humidity ranges from 50 % to 94 %. The

rain fall of the Guwahati city is also ranges from 1.1 mm to 482.7 mm with an average

of 7.8 cm in 2008. Assam received 37% deficit rainfall during the period till end July

2013 (The Assam Tribune dated 12.07.2013), with the actual being 381.3 mm against

the normal of 607.5 mm for the period. The average rainfall in Guwahati was 15.73 cm.

against the normal 17.18 cm in 2010. The rainfall in details is depicted in the Table #

3.02.

Page 9: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

99

Table # 3.02: Average monthly rainfall in Kamrup Metro District during 2010.

Sl. No. Month Normal ( in mm) Actual ( in mm)

1. January 1.1* 13.0*

2. February 5. 5* 15.7*

3. March 50.3 60.5

4. April 369.7 170.7

5. May 341.6 282.2

6. June 482.7 387.4

7. July 250.8 346.9

8. August 113.6 279.0

9. September 350.1 190.4*

10. October 95.2 114.4

11. November 0.0 17.7

12. December 2.2 10.1

* Including Kamrup District

Source: Statistical Hand Book Assam 2011,Directorate of Economics

and Statistics, Assam. pp. 52-56.

e.Temperature:

The temperature ranges from 4.80 C (in January 2013) to 38.40C (in June 2013)

with an average 20.30C. Based on the information of Regional Meteorology Centre,

Borjahr, Guwahati, the temperature of Guwahati on 1st May 1960 was 40.30C and

38.60C on 27th March, 1979 (The Assam Tribune dated 8.5.2013) and the average

maximum and average minimum summer day temperature of the Guwahati City for the

month of May, June, July and August taking 1951 as the beginning year to the year

2012 are shown in the Table # 3.03.

Page 10: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

100

Table # 3.03: Maximum and Minimum summer day Average Temperature of the

Guwahati City

Y

E

A

R

Month May Month June Month July Month August

Average

Maxim-

um 0C

Average

Minim-

um 0C

Average

Maxim-

um 0C

Average

Minim-

um 0C

Average

Maxim-

um 0C

Average

Minim-

um 0C

Average

Maxim-

um 0C

Average

Minim-

um 0C

1951 30.3 22.1 30.8 24.7

1952 30.6 22.2 33.0 25.4

1953 33.0 25.9

1958 32.2 25.3 32.4 25.9

1959 32.6 25.8

1960 32.09 23.3

1963 32.9 22.8 32.9 26.2

1971 32.0 25.1

1973 33.4 25.15 33.4 25.5

1975 32.2 24.8

1979 34.1 24.5

1981 33.5 24.9

1988 32.0 26.0

1991 32.3 26.1

1992 32.5 25.5

1994 33.6 25.9 33.3 25.5

1997 33.4 25.6

2004 32.4 22.9

2008 33.0 23.3

2012 33.5 22.3 32.1 24.1 33.4 25.4 34.1 25.2

Source: Regional Meteorology Centre, Borjhar, Guwahati, Temperature of

Guwahati City published in ‘The Assam Tribune’ dated, 13.09.2012.

f. Drainage and Water Bodies:

The mighty River Brahmaputra having peak flow 65,500 CM/sec during

summer is flowing in the north side with slight western side of the old Gauhati

Municipal Corporation which has large numbers of attracting archeological events and

natural wet lands. The River Brahmaputra is the main natural drainage flowing through

Page 11: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

101

the proposed greater Guwahati and its tributary River Bharalu originated from

Meghalaya is flowing from south to north passing through the heart of the city touching

Khanapara, Mataria, Assam state zoo, Rupnagar, Birubari, Rehabari, Fatasil. The river

Basishta originated from south Meghalaya is passing through Bhetapara,

Beltola,Lakhara and finally falls into Deepar Beel. Among many other water bodies

available in the greater Guwahati is the Deepar Beel which has been recognized as

Ramsa Water Body, Silsako, Tepor Beel, Hahchora, Pitani Beel, Pota Beel, Sarusola

and Barsola Beel. The Digheli Pukhuri and Jor Pukhuri constructed by Queen

Phuleswari, Sil Pukhuri, Nakkata Pukhuriare four major water bodies in the City.

g. Soil and Vegetation:

As per Saikia and Saikia (2004), the hills region is covered by red sandy clay

and late rite soil and plains area composed of silt, sand, clay and red clay, soil materials

are mixture of grains of non-cohesive material like quartz, feldspar and mica, and lump

of stone. The natural vegetation in the city is mostly covered by naturally grown old

and new trees, planted trees, natural deciduous type of forests in hills which is now

gradually reducing due to cutting of hilly earth and illegal settlement. The plains of the

City is covered by huts, Assam type houses and multistoried buildings and flats, roads,

lanes, offices and residential houses in addition to telecommunication and T.V. towers,

posts of Electricity Board, holders, banners and so on besides the bazaar areas.

h. Land use pattern:

The land use pattern of the Guwahati City is somewhat peculiar because of its

topographical situation staring from very low land of water body to very high land of

hillside. The built-up area was 83.3 Sq. Kms in 1968, 132.19 Sq. Kms. in 1990, and

Page 12: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

102

135.48 Sq. Kms. in 2002 (The Assam Tribune dated, 6.11.2012:5). The classification of

built-up land shows the percentage of the total built-up land of that year(Table # 3.04).

A comparative study also reveals that there has been unabated conversion of

land from non-urban use to urban use, resulting in gradual decrease of forest cover as

well as increase of waste land and the total forest cover in the hills now is a meager

13.6%, of the 7023 hectares of hills land, 262 hectares fall under reserve forest which

are gradually destroyed and degraded due to encroachment and tree felling by the

people.

Table # 3.04: Land Use Pattern in Guwahati City (in percentage)

Land use

category

Year

1990

Year

2002

Break up Year

1990

Year

2002

Year

2012*

Built up Land 42.2 38.27

Residential

Industrial

Transpiration

Commercial

Recreational

Public and Semi-public

Mixed built up area

73.0

4.0

7.3

5.3

0.4

9.3

0.7

78.0

5.0

8.0

-

-

9.0

73.0

4.2

0.6

1.5

0.1

12.3

0.2

Agril. Land 8.2 12.28 - - -

Forest land 12.6 11.85 - - - 13.6

Waste Land 6.9 14.94 - - -

Water bodies 30.1 22.65 - - -

Source: Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre 2005, R. G. Barua Road,

Guwahati.*Satellite Imagery of city’s land use pattern published in The Assam

Tribune dated, 06.11.2012. p. 5.

i.Transport and Communication:The city is connected with Broad Gauge

Railways, National Highway No. 31 and 37. There were 2268 roads within the

Municipal Corporation (Deka 2001) of which 1919 roads are maintained by Guwahati

Page 13: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

103

Municipal Corporation, 237 roads by Public Works Department, Assam, and rest 112

roads by Railway authority. The entire city is internally and externally connected by

many small and big, buses, auto rickshaw, share cars, more than 21,100 rickshaws (The

Assam Tribune dated, 27.4.2013) and individual vehicular arrangement. The railway

stations within the City are at Kamakhya (Maligaon), Guwahati (Panbazar), New

Guwahati and Narengi with N.F.Railway H.Q at Maligaon established in 1958. The

growth of business and commerce, educational institutions and other offices, Guwahati

Refinery (1962), easy connection between north and south banks of River Brahmaputra

by Saraighat Bridge constructed in 1964 make it busiest City in the Northeastern part

of India.

The Guwahati City is connected by many places through water ways also. As

per Inland Water Transport Corporation, the ferry service, private engine boat and

country boat services available are (a) Sunsali-Kuruwa (b) Guwahati-Kuruwa (c)

Guwahati-Rajaduwar (d) Guwahati-North Guwahati (e) Guwahati-Suwalkuchi (f)

Pandu-Amingaon (g) Adabari-Kurihamari (h) Guwahati-Kirakhata and carries 18 to 22

lakhs passenger yearly and about 32000 to 36000 quintal of goods every year which is

about 15.8% to 19.5%of total passengers and 8.46% to 9.45% of total goods of the

Assam.

The Guwahati City is connected by air ways by good numbers of flights via its

L.G.B. International Airport, Borjhar, Guwahati (Table #3.05).

Page 14: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

104

Table # 3.05: Air Port Statistics of Air Fights in Guwahati City.

Air Flight particulars

Year

2007-08

Year

2008-09

Year

2009-10

Average Numbers of Flights handled per day 67 169 72

Average Numbers of passengers handled per day 3691 11025 4357

Average Cargo handled per day (in tones) 6 7 14.53

Source: Statistical Hand Book of Assam 2011, 2012. Directorate of Statistics and

Economics, Assam.p. 204.

Educational, Industrial and Commercial Activities

a. Educational Institutions and Offices:

In the Guwahati City, there are Gauhati University, Guwahati, established in

1948, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, 2 private Universities and K.K.

Handique State Open University, Cotton College State University, Assam Agricultural

UniversityBranch, good numbers of colleges and educational institutes in Arts, Science,

Commerce, Health and Medical Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Information

Technology, Management, Fashion design, Mass Communication and others. The

Assam State Secretariat at Dispur is situated in Guwahati City where a large numbers of

Central Government offices, State Government, Semi Government, Private, Non-

Government Organizational offices, The Gauhati High Court, Bank are available.

Among many other offices, the Deputy Commissioner’s office established in

1861,Thana and Post and Telegraph office in 1872, Gauhati dispensary in 1871, Cotton

College in 1901, Curzon Hall in 1903, Assam State Museum in 1940. As per Deka

(2001), a voluntary Town Improvement Committee was formed in 1936. This

Committee tried to introduce the idea of civic amenities to the local people of the

Page 15: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

105

Gauhati (Now Guwahati) and Gauhati Municipal Board was set up with two English

officials as Commissioner and District Magistrate as Chairman and Act was passed.

The Gauhati Municipal Board was functioning till 1956 and Gauhati Municipal

Corporation Act 1971 come into force w.e.f. 18.01.1973 with 34 numbers of wards at

that time. With the growth of the City, the migration of people, specially poor people to

Guwahati City are increasing by lips and bounds for their jobs, employment in various

works under informal sectors.As per Government of Assam (2004), the number of poor

exceeds 1,00,000 in the city. These are distributed in hill side, low land, riverside,

physically disadvantageous places, near industrial areas, vacant places of railway line,

slum and squatter settlement within the Guwahati City. With the gradual increase of

population and coverage of more areas, the Gauhati Municipal Corporation Act 1971

was time to time amended and it was amended to Guwahati Municipal Corporation

(Amendment) Act 1994 from 5.5.1994 and in subsequent years so as to extend various

facilities to the resident of the Guwahati City. As per Census of India, 2011, the

population of this city is 968,549, which now approaches to about 13,00,000 (June

2013).

b. Industries and Commerce:

The city of Guwahati was not initially industrially forward till the last part of

19th century. As per Das (2002), there was no industrial activity in the beginning of the

20th century except two steam mills, one Oil mill and other Flour mills cum cotton

ginning mill and some cottage level manufacturing, repairing and service units and city

has gradually been progressing in industrial activities after the British came to Assam.

As per Desai (1995), Small and Cottage industries were coming up in Guwahati from

Page 16: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

106

20th century whereas Bombay had absorbed about 30000 workers in ten Cotton Mills by

1860’s. In this context, Subramanya (2006:162)says “with the changing industrial

landscape of the country, the growth of new industrial townships and the dispersal of

activity, a new process of industrial culturalization of workers have set in. New

working class areas have come into being and old ones are expanding”. Thus the

migratory labourers still come to cities to get employment in the industries and other

such avenues available at Guwahati City.

The Gauhati Refinery, being the second one of the state, was established in

1962 at Noonmati and Gauhati Flour Mills was established in 1956 in Bhangagarh.

With the establishment of Refinery, Oil Mills & Rice Mills, Saw Mills at Ulubari,

Printing Press at Chandmari, the industrial wave has gradually spreading after

independence and subsequently many small and medium industries like India Carbon

and Assam Carbon at Noonmati, Fertichem Ltd at Bonda, Kamrup Paper Mills at

Amingaon, Kumar Iron and Steel Ltd, Zoo Road and such other industrial units are

come up besides good numbers of repairing and service centers. The present industrial

scenario of the City is very encouraging and a large numbers of micro, small, medium

and large industries, commercial centers, industrial estate, mini industrial estate and

industrial parks are coming up in Guwahati City. The present Industrial Infrastructure

constructed by the Industries and Commerce Department of Assam in greater Guwahati

are depicted in the Table # 3.06.

The total Small Scale Industries namely Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (SSI

/MSME) registered in the in the Guwahati City during the last few years are shown in

the Table # 3.07 and Table # 3.08 respectively. During the year 2010, there are large

numbers of industrial units are established in Guwahati where a sizable numbers of

Page 17: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

107

peoples are engaged formally besides the engagement of daily wage labour and workers

under informal sector.

Table # 3.06: Industrial Infrastructure in Greater Guwahati and Kamrup District

Sl

No.

Name of Industrial Infrastructure Aras in

Sq. Mtr

No. of

Sheds

Constructed

No. of units

functioning as

on31.3.2012.*

1. Industrial Estate , Bamunimaidan 76132 63 76

2. Industrial Area, (i) Kalapahar

(ii) Bonda

(iii) Bamunimaidam

(iv) Rani

14049

32474

38141

82974

13

21

34

40

28

34

57

23

3. Export Promotional Industrial Park,

Amingaon

275587 3 38

4. Mini Industrial Estate, Kalapahar 12310 43 43

Other Industrial Infrastructure nearest to Guwahati City within Kamrup District

1. Growth Center (i) Chaygaon-I

(ii) Chaygaon

(iii) Patgaon

535316

321190

21734

0

0

1

7

0

2

2. Integrated Infrastructure Development

Project, Rangia

162805 0 7

*This includes the sheds constructed by the industrial units themselves at their own

cost.

Source: Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Assam (2012).

The SSI and Medium industries registered after notification of MSME Act 2006

during last 4 years (2007-11) are shown in the following table.

The trade and commercial activities are controlled by the Rajasthani

community, followed by Hindi speaking community and Assamese speaking

Page 18: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

108

community. The Bengali speaking people generally prefers service in Government, or

in NGO or in casual work.

Table # 3.07: Micro Enterprises registered in District Industries and Commerce

Center, Assam, in Guwahati City during 2006 to 2011.

Period Agro-

based

Steel

furniture and

fabric-ation

Fruits Printing

press

Carton

Box

Dalmut

Bhujiya

Leat-her Repa-

iring

and

servi-

cing

2006-7 22 34 5 20 5 2 - 11

2007-8 5 16 3 13 1 2 1 17

2008-9 7 17 - 19 1 - - 9

2009-10 7 52 4 22 - 5 16

2010-11 5 64 2 16 2 1 1 29

Source: District Industries and Commerce Center, Kamrup, Guwahati.

It is also seen that some new industrial areas are coming up during last few

years at some intermediate parts of the Guwahati city in the south and south-western

part (Pacchim Baragaon, Pub Baragaon), and in the southern part of the City (Lalmati,

Sarusajai & Barsajai) because of construction of the 4 (four) Lane Asian Highway and

south-eastern part (Khanapara, Panjabari), eastern part (Bamunimaidan, Bonda) of the

City.

Page 19: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

109

Table # 3.08: Small Scale and Medium Enterprises registered in Directorate of

Industries and Commerce, Assam, Guwahati.

Sl No. Industrial activity Numbers

1. Plastic based including lamination articles 3

2. Fabrication of Steel items, Furniture and households items 1

3. Pot perform, Bottle cap, Closure 1

4. IMFL 1

5. Casting of Iron & Steel, M.S. Ingot 2

6. Soda water, Fruits 2

7. Biscuits 2

8. Hair cream, Gel, Shoe polish, Mosquito repeal 1

9. Cement factory 1

10. Ready mix concrete 1

11. Printing press, Book binding, Corrugated Box 2

12. Flexible lamination article 1

13. Oxygen and Nitrogen (Liquefied ) Gas 1

14 Jute fabric and Jute items 1

15. Cotton, Acrylic polyester Dyed yarn 1

16. Disposable glass and cups 1

17. Thermocolis sheet blower, PVC Pipe 2

18. Electrical Equipments, welding rods and other electrical items 2

19 Soya nuggets and Soya chunks 1

Total 26

Source: Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Assam, Guwahati.

Along with the industrial development of the City, the level of income of the

traders is also gradually increasing with resultant increase of population in the City.

Consequently it brings scope to formation of slum areas in Guwahati where in large

numbers of informal sectors are gradually growing leaps and bound in many areas of

Page 20: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

110

Guwahati City. The level of income for the poor and slum habitants has however, not

increasing as envisaged by authority, there is still poor socio-cultural activities, problem

of poverty, housing and accommodation problems, lack of education to children and a

large numbers of child labourers are engaged by the private organized sectors.

c. Price and Public Distribution System:

The changes in commodity prices have great impact on the economic activities

as well as on the purchasing power of the people of a country and rising prices also lead

to increase in income inequality. It also affects the fixed income groups of the society

(Economic Survey, Assam 2011-12:186-188). The consumer Price Index number for

industrial workers is mainly used for the determination dearness allowances being paid

to the public sector employees, besides the fixation and revision of minimum wages in

scheduled employment. It is based on the retail prices of essential commodities and

services in industrially developed nations.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for industrial workers was constructed by

Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Assam, Guwahati and during

the year 2011, the CPI for industrial workers in Assam increased 6.21% as against

9.09% at all India level over 2010 and the rate of increase of the index was recorded

higher by 7.69 % in Guwahati over the previous year which is reflected in the Table #

3.9.

The CPI number has direct impact on the workers engaged in the informal

sectors because of its sale of products and services to the employees of the organized

sector.

Page 21: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

111

Table # 3.09: Consumer Price Index (CPI) Number for Industrial workers in

Guwahati, Assam and India (Base 2001=100)

Year Guwahati Assam India

2006 115 116 123

2007 120 125 131

2008 128 133 142

2009 143 147 157

2010 156 161 176

2011 168 171 192

Source: Economic Survey of Assam, 2011-12. pp.186-188.

All these facilities stated in various paragraph above, accelerate the trade and

business activity in the City by handling of agricultural goods, animal life stocks, forest

products, mineral products, dairy products, fishes and vegetables, industrial equipments

and machinery items, transport equipments and tools, electronic and electrical

equipments.The registered factories of Guwahati give livelihood to the poor engaged in

informal sector besides the employment of large numbers of peoples in formal sector in

these factories and activities.The workers engaged in different factories in Assam and

Kamrup (M) is reflected in the Table # 3.10.

d.Distribution Pattern of Workers:

The distribution pattern of the different groups of society in Guwahati City

shows somewhat similar and homogeneous segregation, like language, religion, culture,

physical appearance. These social factors more or less affect the occupational structure

of the population of the City. The distribution pattern of workers in different categories

in the City shows that activities in different services are too high followed by transport,

storage and communication and is least in mining and quarrying (Table # 3.11).

Page 22: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

112

Table # 3.10: Distribution of workers in the registered factories in Kamrup District

and Assam.

Type of Industries

Assam Kamrup*

Factory Worker Factory Worker

Agriculture, hunting, and related service

activities

29 495 3 20

Manufacturing of food products and beverage 1519 69229 161 4686

Manufacturing of tobacco products 52 725 34 401

Leather products 1 12 - -

Manufacturing of paper and paper products 153 3392 33 529

Printing, publishing, reproduction of recorded

media

40 978 26 772

Chemical and chemical products 148 7348 103 4355

Manfg. of plastic and rubber products 153 3392 103 1712

Manfg. of other non-metallic products 1132 30251 175 4905

Manfg. M/c and Equipment 49 814 12 208

Manfg. Electrical Machineries and apparatus 43 815 32 465

Manfg. of Radio, TV, Communication

equipment and Machineries

7 193 7 193

Mangf. of basic metals 132 3643 84 2531

Manfg. of furniture 25 482 19 345

Sale, maintenance, & repairing of motor

vehicle

107 2132 37 908

Retail trade except motor &

motor cycle

19 107 3 16

Post & telecommunication 1 26 1 26

Education service 3 - 1 -

Coke and petroleum products natural fuel 64 5444 47 3158

Source: Statistical Hand Book, Assam, 2011, pp. 138-145 * including Kamrurp (Metro)

Page 23: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

113

Table # 3.11: Distribution of workers in different categories in the Guwahati City.

Sl.

No

Category Percent (%) distribution

1971 1991 2001

1. Cultivator 0.83 1.34 0.66

2. Agricultural labourers 0.40 1.05 0.27

3. Household Manufacturing, repairing,

servicing

1.44 0.64 1.57

4. Life stock, forestry, fishing, hunting,

plantation, orchards and allied

0.94 2.48

92.2

5. Mining and quarrying 0.04 0.45

6. Manufacturing, Processing, Service

and repairing other than households

12.98 11.15

7. Construction 3.83 5.42

5.3

8. Trade and commerce 21.92 26.04

9. Transport, storage, communication 23.13 14.08

10. Other services 34.48 37.32

11. Marginal workers - 0.83

12. Total 100.00 100.00 100.00

13. Total workers in Numbers 65,969 173,351 284,381

Source: 1.Office of the Directorate of Census Operation, Assam, 2002.

2. Town Directory of Assam, 1971 and 1991.

e. The Tea Auction Center:

The Tea Auction Centre established in 1970 and Guwahati Stock Exchange

established in 1983 at Guwahati are the important centers for trade commerce activities

in Guwahati. The Fancy Bazaar is the main hub for the trade and business in addition to

Uzan Bazar, Dispur, Maligaon, Beltola, Palton Bazaar, Noonmati, Narengi, Khanapara,

Maligaon and the like.

Page 24: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

114

Table # 3.12: Quantity and Average Price of Tea Sold in Guwahati Tea Auction

Centre.

Year Leaf

Dust

CTC Orthodox CTC Orthodox

Quanti-

ty

(million

Kg )

Average

price

(per

Kg.)

Quant-

ity

(millio

n Kg )

Aver-

age

price

(per

Kg.)

Quant-

ity

(millio

n Kg )

Aver-

age

price

(per

Kg.)

Quan-

tity

(millio

n Kg )

Aver-

age

price

(per

Kg.)

2005 101.94 61.11 0.61 61.62 40.3 59.19

2006 100.75 67.96 0.72 78.18 40.90 68.27

2007 106.88 70.09 4.16 73.93 41.51 73.02 .001 50.00

2008 110.14 90.2 0.56 92.39 41.99 95.73

2009 98.33 108.52 0.44 111.21 39.74 115.10

2010 87.33 113.06 0.36 122.09 38.94 116.26

2011

(up to

July)

20.17 126.78 0.06 123.34 10.17 122.82

Source: Economic Survey, Assam, 2011-12, p. 123.

The impact of Tea Auction Center in Guwahati has direct and indirect impact on

the growth of informal sectors wherein some people of this locality are employed as it

has handled large quantity of tea every year (Table # 3.12)

Population Growth in Guwahati City

a. Population Demography:

The Guwahati City exhibits heterogeneous composition of peoples speaking

Assamese, Hindi, Bengali in a dominating numbers and other languages spoken are

Nepali, Bodo (Boro), Telegu, Karbi, Rajasthani, Rabha, Deori, Bhojpuri, Urdu,

English, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil and the like. The city is dominated by Hindu and

Islamic religion followed by Jain, Christian and Buddhist. The literacy rate is 92.89%

Page 25: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

115

for male and 89.16% for female (Census of India, 2011). The population distribution

rather the density of population of the city was 2695/Sq. Kms. in 1991, 3735/Sq. Kms.

in 2001 and now 3697/Sq. Kms.in 2011 having sex ratio 839 in 2001 and 927 in 2011

respectively. The growth of population of Guwahati City is shown in the Table # 3.13

and represented by a Diagram # D- 01.

* There was no Census in 1981, and the figure mentioned here is estimated.

Population growth of Guwahati City as per Census of India 2001, 2011 & Master

Plan of Guwahati Metropolitan Area 2009 :

Diagram # D-01

11661 12481 16480 21797

29594

84601

166695

252505

435280

584342

818809

968549

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981* 1991 2001 2011

Page 26: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

116

Table # 3.13: Growth of Population in Guwahati and Assam.

Population of Guwahati Population of Assam

Year Population Decadal growth Population Decadal growth

1901 11,661 - 32,89,680 -

1911 12,481 7.03 38,48,617 16.99

1921 16,480 32.04 46,36,980 20.48

1931 21,797 32,26 55,60,371 19.91

1941 29,594 35.79 66,94,790 20.40

1951 84,601 185.83 80,28,856 19.93

1961 166,695 797.04 108,37,329 34.98

1971 252,505 51.36 146,25,152 34.95

1981 435,280* 48.45* 180,41,000* 23.36*

1991 584,342 131.6 224,14,322 53.26

2001 818,809 40.12 266,55,528 18.92

2011 968,549 18.29 311,69,272 16.93

* There was no census in 1981 and this is estimated figure.

Source: (i)Census of India, 2001 and Census of India, 2011 and

(ii) Master Plan of Guwahati Metropolitan Area, 2009.

Table # 3.14: Ward wise Population density of the Guwahati City.

Sl.

No.

Range of Population density

: Persons/Sq. Km

Ward Number $

1. 927 to 3584 2, 7, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 31, 40, 46, 47, 50, 51,

52, 54, 58,

2. 3585 to 7640 1, 15, 22, 31, 48, 49, 53, 55, 56, 59, 60,

3. 7641 to 12329 3, 5, 9, 11, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 33,

34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 57,

4. 12330 to 17652 6, 8, 27, 30, 36,

5. 17653 to 26712 4, 14, 19, 20, 28, 29, 32, 43, 44, 45,

$ There were 60 numbers wards in 2012.

Source: 1.Office of the Directorate of Census Operation, Assam, 2002

2. Town Directory of Assam, 1971, 1991.

Page 27: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

117

The highest density population zone is found near the city center and gradually

it is decreasing towards the outwards and in southern side. The ward wise population

density of the city can be sighted in the Table # 3.14.

b. Urbanization:

The definition of Urbanization adopted by the Census of India, 2011, is as

under:

a) All statutory towns i.e. all places with a Municipality, Corporation,

Municipal Board, Cantonment Board or Notified areas, Council/

Committees;

b) All other places which satisfy the following criteria:

i) A minimum population of 5000.

ii) At least 75% of the male working population are engaged in non-

agricultural and allied activities and

iii) Density of population at least 400 per Sq. Km (or 1000 persons per Sq.Mile).

The process of urbanization and growth of population in the urban places like

Guwahati City in the N. E. Region of India is a trend of social change. For economic

and social development of the people living both in the rural and urban areas, the

Government is taking many policies and implementing many schemes among the

people. The social change and functions of the urban areas are more diversified in

trade, commerce, industrialization, transport and communication, service and

business, besides other activities like, official, professional, individual, educational

and other related social activities. At present, the push and pull factor of

Page 28: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

118

urbanization is a never ending process. The basic reason for the growth of population

in urban areas is the migration of people from the rural areas to the urban areas for

their employment. The shifting of rural people to urban centre has opened up a new

advantage for the labour force who are having a few years of schooling, very little or

no previous work experience. The greater avenue for employment in urban places due

to jobs availability in the trades & business, industries, transport and communication,

services, construction activities, large scale Government/semi Govt. offices, private

institutions, educational & health care etc. are also major factors for pulling the rural

people to urban areas.

The urban agglomeration, which was formally conceived in 1971 during

census, was subsequently continued during 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 census. The

new entrance to the heart of the city or adjoining town like place, i.e. railway colony,

port areas, university campus, military campus, business place, which by its

qualification cannot treated as independent town, but form a continuous part and

treated to be an urban area (Census of India, 2011).

All these factors as out lined above accelerate the growth of population in

the cities and towns year after year. Even then, India accounts for about 17.1%

world population with 2.4% of the world surface wherein urbanization is taking

place day by day. The urbanization trend of Assam is depicted in the Table #

3.15and population is represented by a Diagram # D-02

Page 29: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

119

45.153.98

64.87

76.84

105.56

133.36

166.67

199.27

232.16

267.81

1.27 1.62 2.08 3.457.81 12.89

18.94

24.8834.39

43.89

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981* 1991 2001 2011

Rural Population in Lakh

Urban Population in Lakh

*There was no Census in 1981. Figure mentioned is estimated.

Year wise Rural & Urban Population of Assam (in Lakh)

Diagram # D-02

Page 30: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

120

Table # 3.15: Trend in Urbanization of Assam 1921-2011

Census

Year

Total

Nos. of

UAs/

Towns

Total

popul-

ation in

Lakhs

Total rural

population

Total Urban

population

Percent

Urban

popul-

ation

Decennial

Growth

percent

1921 22 46.37 45,09,873 127,107 2.74 36.8

1931 22 55.60 53,98,295 162,166 2.92 27.58

1941 24 66.95 64,86,723 208,067 3.11 28.3

1951 24 80.29 76,84,025 344,831 4.29 65.73

1961 50 108.37 105,56,041 781,288 7.16 126.57

1971 69 146.25 133,35,930 1289,222 8.71 65.01

1981 * * * * * *

1991 87 224.14 199,26,527 2487,795 10.97 92.97

2001 110 266.55 232,16,288 3439,240 12.90 38.24

2011 189 311.69 267,80,516 4388,756 14.08 27.61

Source: Census of India, 2011. * No census was done in 1981

c. Classification of Towns and Cities:

The Guwahati City is the most populous city which is only the Class-I city

among the North-eastern States of India having one Municipal Corporation. It crosses 1

(one) lakh population in 1961. Presently, the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district is the most

urbanized district of Assam and Guwahati City accounts for about 84% of the urban

population (Census of India, 2011) of the district and rest are shared by Class II, III, IV,

V, and VI category of urban Centers (Table 3.16).

Agnihotri (2000:252-253), while discussing on poverty and homelessness stated

that the growth of cities in developing countries like India is one of the main reasons of

homelessness of the poor and cities are attracting migrants from countryside because of

rural unemployment caused by improvement in agriculture productivity and these

migrants need brick houses, piped water supply, sewers and roads. But the rural

migrants are unable to afford due to poverty. He argued that cities are growing fast and

further investment in them should be discouraged for five main reasons:

Page 31: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

121

Table # 3.16: Growth of Urban Population by size class of UA / City / Town, 1991 -

2011.

size class of

UA/City/Town

Nos. of UAs /Towns Percentage of population in each

size class

1991 2001 2011 1991 2001 2011

Class -I 4 7 7 37.68 46.96 42.79

Class -II 4 7 8 11.60 11.74 11.13

Class –III 20 22 24 25.66 19.13 16.47

Class -IV 32 31 45 18.12 13.54 14.56

Class -V 15 35 78 5.18 7.68 12.45

Class -VI 12 8 27 1.75 0.94 2.50

All Classes 87 110 189 100 100 100

Source: Census of India, 2011, Provisional Population Totals, paper 2, Volume 2 of

2011, Assam, p.176.

(1) Cities have been boosted artificially: Many developing countries have spent an

undue proportion of their scarce resources on providing their cities with cheap

food and expensive infrastructure project.

(2) Cities are too expensive: Urbanization calls for lot of investment in

infrastructure that is not strictly necessary because migrants are abandoning

perfectly good houses in their villages.

(3) Cities increase unemployment: There are only two types of labour market in big

city: well-paid jobs in the civil services, banking and industry for a privileged

few, hood-carrying or often nothing at all for millions living in slums and shanty

towns. The enormous numbers of squatters account for over half the population

of some of the cities.

Page 32: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

122

(4) Cities breed crime: Unlike villages and towns where populations are stable

enough for new comers to become known, cities are full of strangers and safety

of neighborhood is largely in the hands of the police which often inadequate.

(5) Cities waste resources: People in villages can walk to work, those in towns may

have to take a short ride by car, bus or bicycle and in a city the concentration of

people causes congestion and raises the cost of travel involving wastage of extra

time and fuel. As cities expand, the causes of providing basic services often rise

exponentially. In addition, there are environmental and natural problems added

with manmade disasters.

d. Estimated Population in urban area of Assam and Guwahati:

The estimated population growth, in urban agglomeration areas of Assam and

Guwahati City in the next 20 years will be 68.16 lakhs and 26.50 lakhs respectively if a

decadal growth rate for Assam and Guwahati are assessed at 18-25% and at 35-40%

respectively. The Census of India, 2011 have mentioned the urbanization trend in

terms of percent urban population of Assam and Kamrup Metropolitan District is

(82.9%) in the 1st position among 10 districts of Assam followed by Dima Hasao

(28.7%), Jorhat (20.1%), Tinsukia (20.0%) and the position of next 6 districts are

Dibrugarh (18.4%), Cachar (18.2%), Bongaigaon (13.8%), Goalpara (13.7%), Nagaon

(13.0%) and Karbi Anglong (11.8%) respectively.

The share of Guwahati City population to the total urban agglomeration of

Assam will be about 39% in 2030 as estimated in the Table # 3.17.

Page 33: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

123

Table # 3.17: Projected Population Growth in Assam and Guwahati City during 2015-

2030.

Year

Assam Urban

population in Lacs

Guwahati

Population in Lacs

Population density in

number per Sq. Km.

2011(Base yr.) 43.89 9.69 4486

2015 47.82 14.98 4539

2020 53.55 18.05 5470

2025 60.26 21.91 5532

2030 68.16 26.50 6691

Note: The area of Guwahati assumed at 262 Sq. km. in 2010 and 328 Sq. km. in 2025.

Source: Calculated by author himself.

e.Slum Population in Guwahati City:

The slum in Guwahati emerged at an early stage of colonial period, and initially

slum formed by the Harijans settled colony just before the independence (Action Aid

2004). The said report reflected that Harijans colony was first started in M C Road near

the Kamrup Academy School and Chenikuthi Medium English School. The identified

the slum areas of Guwahati City are either in temporary nature or in permanent nature.

The study shows that the slums identified by one organization in a particular year are

varied from other organizations in some other year.

The total slums pockets as identified in the Guwahati City come to 114 numbers

with a population of 185,716 which is about 19.17% of the total population of

Guwahati City if we assume total population of Guwahati at 9,68,549 (Census of India,

2011).

Page 34: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

124

Table # 3.18: Total slum pockets and slum population in Guwahati City till 2012.

Sl. No. Name of

Organization

Slums

pockets

identified

Nos. of

Househo

lds

Nos. of

Population

Remarks

1. Guwahati

Development

Department,

Govt. of Assam

90

27,966

167,796

Notified by the

Government of

Assam.

2. Additional slums

identified by

Researcher.

24 3,200 17,920 Not notified by Govt.

of Assam till 2012

Total 114 31,166 185,716

Vertical & Horizontal Expansion of Guwahati City:

The experiences from the past few decades have witnessed that the growth of

urban areas and exodus of much population from rural areas to urban areas are due to

search of their employment and better quality of life than their native place. The rural

migrated people generally find many difficulties to adjust in a new urban environment

and they cannot immediately find any earning source because of having no skill for

better jobs. In order to survive they get themselves engaged as domestic helper,

construction labourer and such other occupation under informal sector in the city like

Guwahati. The increase of population no doubt, accelerates the urbanization. On the

other hand, the housing problems are day to day increasing. To meet up the shortage

of houses, multi storied building are coming up. In India presently there is shortage of

18.78 million houses as stated by Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry of

Government of India (Dainik Asam,in Assamese vernacular, dated 24.07.2013:8) and

96% of them are economically backward and poverty stricken people. During the last

two decades, high and medium income people are purchasing the constructed houses,

Page 35: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

125

but the poor specially the slum people do not have capacity to purchase such houses

and so they have to stay in a low cost houses constructed haphazardly in the cities and

towns resulting horizontal expansion of the urban place. The increase of population in

the urban areas, no doubt, accelerates the growth of new slums where there is

availability of low rented houses in the City area. As these migrated peoples are

assumed to be poor, they may try to live in the slum areas or in the places where low

rented houses are available. The survey shows that presently there is a need of 12,817

numbers of suitable accommodations in Guwahati, which accounts about 6.95%

household (Census of India, 2001). The Guwahati City has been expanding gradually

and the characteristics of 3rd World urban centre with the growth of slum and squatter

settlements are being developed. During the second part of 20th century, there is a rapid

expansion of Guwahati City in many folds and it is gradually expanded vertically by

multistoried buildings and horizontally by covering many neighboring and adjacent

places of the old Guwahati City by multiple activities (Map No M.P- 05) and new

slums are formed. Simultaneously, the industrialization and other developmental

activities accelerate the formation of slums. It is expected that the areas of greater

Guwahati would be 330 Sq. Kms. by 2025. Thus the vertical and horizontal expansion

of the City result the pacing of foot of slum formation and accelerate the growth of

formal and informal sectors in the City.

Page 36: CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION OF THE ...shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/88774/11/11_chapter 3.pdf · CHAPTER – III HISTORY, GEOGRPHY AND POPULATION

126

An Aerial View of Major Parts of Guwahati City Central containing Multi-

Storied Buildings, New Field, Nehru Stadium and other places.

Map # MP-05

https://www.google.co.in

**********