GENERAL

GEOGRAPHY

[The section on Geography is contributed by Prof. K. Ramamurthy, Department of Geography, University of Poona.]

Situation.

THE DISTRICT OF SANGLI IS ONE OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICTS OF MAHARASHTRA lying between 16°43' and 17°38' north latitude and 73°41' and 75°41' east longitude and has an area of 8,591.3 kilometres and a population of 1,230,716 with 6 towns and 534 villages of which 4 are uninhabited according to the 1961 Census. [(a) This area figure given by the census authorities was obtained by them from the District Inspector of Land Records. The area figure of the district supplied to the census authorities by the Surveyor-General of India was 8,544 kilometres. (b) Figures in respect of towns and villages have been taken from Census of India, 1961, Vol. X, part II-A.] On the northern side, the district is bounded by the Satara district in the west and Sholapur district in the east. On the southern side, it is bordered by the Kolhapur district in the west, Belgaum and Biiapur districts in the centre and east. The latter continues to border the Sangli district on the eastern side also while beyond the Sahyadris on the west lies the Ratnagiri district.

Administrative Divisions.

The present areas of Sangli district were up to 1948 partly included in old Satara district and partly in the former States of Aundh, Jath, Sangli, Kurundwad (senior), Miraj (senior), Miraj (Junior) and Wadi Estates. In 1949, the district was named as South Satara district which included four talukas of Tasgaon, Khanapur, Walwa and Shirala transferred from old Satara district and two hew talukas of Miraj and Jath formed out of the erstwhile Princely States. In 1960, the name of South Satara district was changed to Sangli district with its headquarters at Sangli in Miraj taluka. For administrative purposes, the district is at present divided into two sub-divisions, Walwa and Miraj. The Walwa subdivision comprises Khanapur, Shirala and Walwa talukas whereas the Miraj sub-division comprises Tasgaon, Jath and Miraj [On 1st August 1964 Khanapur and Miraj talukas were reconstituted into Khanapur taluka and Atpadi Mahal, and Miraj taluka and Kavathe Mahankal Mahal, respectively. The Mahals are since termed as talukas under Government notification.] talukas.

The following table gives details of the two administrative divisions of the district:—

TABLE NO. 1

*Figures in brackets indicate area in sq. miles.

Boundaries.

The boundaries of the Sangli district are for the most part administrative and only in the western half coincide with natural features. The Sahyadris form the boundary at the extreme western end of the district for only about eight miles (12.87 km) southwards to just beyond the South Tivra pass from whence it runs eastwards along minor water-divides and stream courses to join the Varna river. Then the entire Varna, and after this river joins the Krishna, the latter till half a mile (.804 km) above Ganeshwadi, forms the southern boundary of the district. On the northern side, the boundary extends eastwards along a minor tributary of the Varna and after crossing this river runs north-eastwards for about two miles. (3.21 km) along a minor watershed to join the main water-divides north of the Varna basin, roughly running parallel to the river in a south-easterly direction. Near Dhamavda and Girijavda this range splits into several spurs and the district boundary follows one of the north-easterly trending spurs and thence to the Krishna river. After following the course of the Krishna for about three miles and a half (5.63 km), the boundary turns northwards to join the Vardhangad-Machchindragad range and follows its crest line with some minor deviations and then turns eastwards along a spur to the north of Shamgaon. Apart from these natural boundaries in the western part of the district, the boundary elsewhere is mostly one of administrative convenience with only a few stretches along mountain crests and water-divides or stream courses.

Physical Features.

The hills of the district may broadly be grouped as follows: —

(1) the Sahyadris, the Bhairavgad-Kandur hills and their spurs,

(2) the Machchindragad-Kamal Bhairav dongar,

(3) the Mahimangad-Panhala range with its off-shoots, and

(4) the hills of the north-eastern part of the Khanapur taluka.

The main Sahyadrian rampart on the west rising to over 4,800 metres, forms the highest hill range in the district. On this is situated the fort of Prachitgad and the South Tivra pass connecting this district with Konkan by a footpath. The Shirala taluka Consists mostly of the southern slopes of the Bhairavgad-Kandur hills which branches off from the main Sahyadris in a southeasterly direction. The western part up to Charan is fairly well-wooded. Here the hills steeply rise from the river banks (though not as steep as on the Kolhapur side) leaving little room for tillage. The slopes are covered with dense mixed jungle with isolated patches of agricultural land mainly devoted to ragi. There are also a considerable number of Dhangarwadis, villages of shepherds, who live by grazing sheep on the grassy hillsides. There is a line of springs below a pervious cap of the hills at a level varying from 4,400 metres (2,750 feet) in the west to 3,000 metres (2,500 feet) in the east. East of Charan, the Varna is bordered by a strip of land which is cultivable but the hills become less wooded.

From the main range of the Bhairavgad-Kandur hills, near Girijavda and Dhamavda several branch spurs radiate towards south-east, east and north-east separating the valleys of the Morna, Karmala and Kasegaon rivers, making up the hills of the Walwa taluka. The south-easterly spur is broken, being cut across by streams and ends in Mallikarjun dongar and Santoshgiri. There are three spurs extending north-east and east from this main spur, at the ends of which are situated the villages of Vategaon, Nerla and Kameri. All these hills have only narrow flat tops.

The Machchindragad-Kamal Bhairav dongar trending. in a north-west to south-east direction, at whose southern end is situated Kundal, rises fairly steeply from the flood plain of the Krishna but descends more gently to the basin of the much smaller Sonhira stream, whose level is more than 300 metres above that of the Krishna. On account of the lower base level of the Krishna, the southern end of the range has been cut into and the watershed has receded due to the capturing of a few north-easterly tributary streams by the more powerful ones of the Krishna.

North of Machchindragad, these hills continue as Machchindragad-Vardhangad range, which is an off-shoot of the Mahadev hills and to which the district boundary approximates. Here also, the range presents a steeper slope towards the west or Krishna side and a gentler slope to the east. From this range a few spurs extend eastwards and produce between them several valley head amphitheatres drained by streams flowing into the Nani river, a tributary of the Yerla. On the flat tops of one of these spurs is situated the Dongarai Devi temple at a height of 3,970 metres.

The Mahimangad-Panhala range, another off-shoot from the Mahadev hills, lies to the east of the Yerla basin. The district boundary passes on to this range near Bhairavachiwadi from a westerly spur and then proceeds northwards along this up to about two miles (3.21 km.) north of the Taraskhind ghat. In these hills the land rises in two or three distinct terraces separated by precipitous slopes. The Taraskhind ghat is a major break in this range which is negotiated by the road from Mayani to Dighanchi.

Southwards this range broadens out into a wide plateau about Khanapur, the western edge forming a group of hills extending as far as Juna Panhalgad. The hills bounding this plateau on the eastern side form the water-divide between the Krishna drainage and the Bhima drainage. Below the south-eastern edge of this plateau is the main road from Miraj to Sangola, the railway line being placed parallel to it after a distance of about three miles (4.82 km). The plateau itself has been, dissected by the Agrani river.

The eastern range has several broad and flat summit tops descending by precipitous, slopes, especially in the south as in the Bhopalgad hill and the Parameshwar hill. The district boundary here approximates to the edge of the plateau. The flat tops of these hills are much wider in extent than those of the western part of the district. Vita-Khanapur-Dhalgaon road runs either on the water-divide on the top of the plateau or at a little lower level to the south of it. This water-divide between the northward flowing streams belonging to the Bhima drainage and the southward flowing streams belonging to the Krishna basin runs in a southeasterly direction passing to the south of Dhalgaon and four miles (6.43 km) to the south of Jath and leaves the district some two miles (3.21 km) south of Ravalgundwadi. On this triangular Khanapur plateau the higher plateau tops are over 4,000 metres.

East of the Khanapur plateau lies another plateau of somewhat lower level at about 3,200 metres above sea level comprising the western part of Jath taluka bounded on the north by hills rising to about 3,300 metres above sea level separating this plateau from the Sangola basin to the north. On the east, this plateau descends some ten miles (16 km) east of Jath by a scrap face to a still lower level of about 2,900 metres comprising the eastern part of the Jath taluka.

Rivers.

Within the limits of the Sangli district the Krishna forms the main river system, though the Shirala taluka in the west may be described as belonging to the Varna and the eastern part of the district as belonging to the Bhima drainage.

Varna.

The Varna takes its source some four miles (6.43 km) to the north of the district in the Sahyadris and after a southerly course for a few kilometres in the western part of Shirala runs in a south-easterly direction forming the southern boundary of the district to join the Krishna opposite to Haripur two miles (3.21 km) west of Sangli. Its banks are steep and broken and only to the south-east of Charan, where it overflows its banks every year, there are small strips of extremely fertile land lying to the north of the river devoted to sugarcane, rice and jowar. The sugarcane fields are irrigated by oil pumps installed on the banks of the Varna river. The lands immediately bordering the river are planted with shevri, a fodder crop, just before the rains, which is harvested in about two and a half months. Besides supplying the much valuable fodder for cattle, in times of flood when the river inundates these mali lands, as they are called, they not only check soil erosion and prevent land slips but actually promote the accretion of silt. The soils grade from the fertile black soils of the mali and beyond, through the reddish brown to the red soils of the hill slopes. The villages usually avoid the area liable to flood and are perched on raised ground half a mile away from the river at the foot of the mountain slopes in spite of having to seek their drinking water supplies from wells sometimes even as deep as 30 metres. Some of the streams adjoining the villages have been bunded to store water for the use of animals. The houses are poorly built with roofs of flat country tiles and with walls of stalks of jowar or maize plastered with mud. In these areas of rather heavy rainfall the straw is usually stored in the mala just below the roof of the house to avoid damage by the moisture of the ground. Villages of this type, e.g., Charan, Bhilashi and Mangrul, situated on the lower slopes of the adjoining hills are connected by a road running parallel to the river and forming approximately the line of contact between the grassy slopes and cultivated lands.

Morna.

The river Morna, a tributary of the Varna, rises from a place very near the Dhamavda hill knot and flows between the southerly and south-easterly trending spurs. Villages such as Vakurde Bk., Antri Khurd and Mangle are situated on the stream bank in the trough of the depression. On both sides of the depression, where the land rises more suddenly up the slope of the hills are situated a series of villages linked together by cart tracks. The town of Shirala is a more prosperous settlement than those on the west, which is indicated by the houses with roofs of semi-cylindrical tiles or Mangalore tiles. Betel gardens are extensive, especially to the east of Shirala depending upon well irrigation. East of the Shirala depression is the Aitawade depression separated from the former by a series of low hills of just over 300 metres above it and into which the streams flow southwards to join the Varna. This depression is even more fertile than the Shirala one, containing extensive betel gardens under a system of excellent well irrigation, the betel vines enjoying the protection afforded by the bordering hills from the severity of the monsoon winds.

Krishna.

The Krishna is one of the three great rivers of Southern India. Like the Godavari and the Kaveri it rises to the east of the Western Ghats almost within sight of the Arabian Sea and falls into the Bay of Bengal traversing the entire breadth of the peninsula. In length it is less than the Godavari, but its drainage area, including the drainage of its two great tributaries, the Bhima and the Tungabhadra is larger than that of either the Godavari or the Kaveri. "Within the district it flows for a distance of about 108 kilometres and is joined by the Varna; and the Yerla, while the Agrani river, with a greater part of its course within the district, joins it just outside. The Krishna is unfit for navigation. The channel bed is only about 40 to 45 metres across and outside the monsoon season the river is so shallow that it is possible to drive even bullock-carts across the bed in about knee-deep water.

The Krishna valley is the most fertile part of the district and on its banks which are some 30 to 50 metres above the channel bed are grown abundant crops of sugarcane, plantain and jowar. The strips of land immediately adjoining the river are planted with shevri in the same manner and for the same reasons as in the case of the Varna. Apart from the Krishna canal irrigation on the left bank of the river, the valuable crops on the mali lands are irrigated by oil pumps from bhudkis or wells on the banks of the river. Away from the banks in the Krishna valley there are few wells, as the river water is considerably below the level of the fields, and due to the greater depth of the soil in these areas well sinking is a very arduous task in order to reach the water bearing strata of rocks situated far below the surface. Unlike the Varna basin, there are numerous prosperous villages and towns located right on the high banks of the Krishna on the outside of the meander bends such as Narsingpur, Bahe, Borgaon, Walwa, Nagthane, Burli, Amanapur, Bhilawadi and Sangli. Sometimes there is a smaller twin settlement on the opposite bank also, connected to its primary by ferry service during the monsoon season, as Pundi to June Khed, Shirgaon to Walwa.

The right bank tributaries of the river except the Varna are small ones such as the Kasegaon river, the Peth river, Katora odha, Valu odha and Khara odha. The Kasegaon river passes by the village of that name where it is crossed by the main road and runs north-eastwards to join the Krishna just outside the district. The Peth nala having a similar north-easterly course receives the waters of the Katora odha and joins the Krishna near Bahe. The Valu odha and Khara odha draining the areas east of Islampur and Kameri join the Krishna at Walwa and Nagthane respectively. The main importance of these streams is that though they may be dry for a major part of the year in their valley troughs the water table is close to the surface and there are several villages supported by irrigation from numerous wells.

Yerla.

The Yerla has a much larger drainage area and much larger, longer and more numerous direct tributaries than the Krishna within the limits of the Sangli district. It flows north to south in a valley flanked by the Vardhangad-Machchindragad range on the right or west and by the Mahimangad-Panhala range on the left or east. Intense well irrigation is found in the valley troughs of the Yerla and all its tributary streams unlike in the Krishna valley. The important west bank tributary of the Yerla, the Nani nadi, has a course somewhat parallel to the Vardhangad-Machchindragad range and is joined by several small tributaries' which drain the eastern slopes of that range, the chief of which is Mahadev odha. Half a mile below the junction of the latter, the Nani has been dammed at Chikhli and the Chikhli canal taking off from it on the western bank of the river affords some limited irrigation facilities between it and the river. The Sonhira odha is another west bank tributary of the Yerla flowing eastwards on the northern side of the Kamal Bhairav mountain into the Yerla. The east bank tributaries of the Yerla are generally longer though somewhat drier than those of the west. The most important of them is the Kapur nala which has a good subterranean flow of water under the sands even in the dry season. Oil pumps installed on bhudkis or wells on its banks tap this subterranean flow and regular crops of sugarcane, plantain and chilli are raised. At Tasgaon there are even cocoanut and chiku gardens on the banks of this stream.

On the western side, as has been mentioned earlier, a series of amphitheatres formed by the easterly spurs from the Vardhangad-Machchindragad range are drained by small tributary streams of the Yerla basin. Nestling in the centre of these amphitheatres are villages such as Shamgaon, Khamble, Apshinge, Nerli, Kotavdi and Shirasgaon linked together by cart tracks. There is a further eastern line of somewhat larger settlements such as Raygaon, Shalgaon, Vihapur, Nhavi, Kade-gaon, Tadsar, Ambak and Devrashtra, which are linked by an unmetalled road, motorable only during the dry season. Still farther east on or near the left bank of the Nani river, there is a third line of settlements which is linked by a good metalled road, though these settlements are not of much larger size than those of the second. Settlements are fewer and smaller in size eastwards in the angle between the Nani and the Yerla probably due to the decrease in the fertility of the soils with increasing distance from the piedmont zone of Vardhangad-Machchindragad range.

East of the Yerla river the roads show a preference for watersheds, though some minor unmetalled roads such as the one from Islampur to Bahe is on the water-divide on the west of the Yerla also. The main road from Karad to Jath becomes a water-divide road after crossing the Yerla.

Agrani.

The Agrani river rises just a few miles above Balvadi in the Khanapur plateau and flows two miles (3.21 km) east of Khanapur deeply incised in the plateau. The narrow valley bottoms of this river and its incised tributaries are the only areas of fertile soils with facilities for well irrigation in the otherwise barren plateau areas. The east bank tributaries of the Agrani river have cut down relatively broader valleys and hence there is greater intensity of agriculture, and the villages are consequently larger and more frequent to the east of the river than to the west. After flowing about twenty miles (32.18 km.) in a southward direction, the Agrani turns towards the south-east at Vajrachaunde in conformity with the change in trend of the Mahimangad-Panhala range, and leaves the district five miles (8 km) below Dhulgaon to join the Krishna river.

One important tributary of the Agrani river rises on the plateau some two miles (3.21 km) above Kundlapur and flows due southwards passing by Kuchi and Kavthe Mahankal before joining the Agrani. East of the railway line is another, somewhat larger, tributary flowing in a similar southerly direction on the banks of which many villages have developed.

Man.

The Man river has only about ten miles (16 km) of its course within or on the border of the district but along with its tributaries is responsible for draining the north-eastern parts of Khanapur and Miraj talukas and the northern part of the Jam taluka into the Bhima river. The Mhasvad canals taking off from the Mhasvad storage created on the Man just before its entry into the district provides irrigation facilities to the east of the river in the Khanapur taluka. To the west of the river are a number of tributaries draining the slopes of the Khanapur plateau eastwards into it. From north to south they are the Satvai, Masira, Bhakar, Gharkada, and Balateda formed by the union of the Bhandora Sikir and Dabucha streams, while two more of its tributaries, the Gondira and Ramghat, have only their upper courses in the district. Atpadi, the important village of this area, is situated on the Dabucha river surrounded on the three sides by a loop of the river on the road to Dighanchi on the Man river in the northern part of the taluka.

Korda.

The Korda river rising just to the west of Jath, flows northwards to join the Man outside the district. Along with its numerous tributary streams it drains the north-western part of the Jath taluka towards the Man. There is a remarkable development of well-irrigation in the valley troughs.

Bor.

The eastern part of the Jath taluka is drained principally by the Bor river with its tributaries Dodda and Darai northwards towards the Bhima river. The Bor rises on the northern slopes of the water-divide about three miles (4.28 km) to the northeast of Jath where it is known as Don and after a semicircular course on the plateau enters the lower plateau to the east by a gorge and flows via Daribadchi where it is known as Saval. On the Jath plateau there is a southerly stream known as Kasarki, first flowing eastwards and after a small deviation to the south of the district, joins the Bor river three miles (4.28 km) below Sankh under the name Darai.

Patna.

The Patna rises about six miles (9.65 km) south of the district and flows more or less in a northerly direction across the eastern part of the taluka to join the Bor at Karajagi.

Geographical Regions.

Geographically, the district may be divided broadly into the following regions: (1) The Varna basin with adjoining hills, (2) the krishna basin, (3) the Yerla basin and (4) the eastern plateaus.

Varna Basin.

In the Varna basin the topography is very rugged and the rainfall is heaviest in the district and so it contains the principal forested areas of the district. Here rain-fed rice and jowar are the principal crops. In the western sections, on account of heavy rainfall combined with rugged slopes and poor soils, ragi is grown.

The Shirala taluka is more representative of this region than the Walwa taluka, a part of which also comes under the Varna basin. The Shirala taluka has the largest area under paddy, viz., 19,000 acres (7,689.03 hectares) [Figures of crop acreage in this section are based on the averages for 5 years 1955-56, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1958-59 and 1959-60.], forming two-thirds of the area under paddy of the district. It has 14,700 acres (5,948.89 hectares) under jowar, 3,600 acres (1,456.87 hectares) under ragi and 8,800 acres (3,561.23 hectares) under groundnut. Further about 1,800 acres (728.43 hectares) are under sugarcane and 1,700 acres (687.97 hectares) under maize. The area under grass and babul in this taluka is 59,000 acres (23,886.47 hectares) out of 1,06,300 acres (42,896.71 hectares) for the whole district, a consequence of the high rainfall and rugged relief of the taluka. There is no town of any size here. In the Varna basin because of the heavy monsoon rains the roads are bad, the road from Islampur to Arle being the worst of the motorable roads of the district.

The Varna Project envisages the construction of an earthen dam on the Varna river at Chandoli to impound a storage of 90,613,760 cubic metres (3,200 million cubic feet) of water and a series of 6 pick-up weirs down stream to enable lift-irrigation of 10,300 acres (4,168.27 hectares) in the basin lying in the Sangli district with a similar figure for the Kolhapur portion. This will lead to a great expansion of the area under sugarcane.

Krishna Basin.

The Krishna valley with its most fertile soils of the district raises a rich variety of crop. Apart from the Krishna canal irrigation on the eastern bank and irrigation from bhudkis on the bank of the river, the crops are mostly rain-fed, well-irrigation being difficult on account of the great depth of the soil. The most representative taluka of the Krishna valley is the Walwa, where the important crops are [Census of India, 1961, Vol. X, Part II-A, p. 47.] jowar 73,293 (29,660.65), groundnut 28,541 (11,550.06), harbhara 7,698 (3,155.74), tur 5,358 (2,168.31), wheat 5,137 (2,078.87), sugarcane 4,610 (1,865.60), chillis 2,970 (1,201.91), rice 2,564 acres (1,037.61) and udid 2,395 acres (969.22). [Figures in brackets indicate area in hectares.] The sugarcane acreage of the taluka accounts for more than one-third of the total acreage of the district. The Miraj taluka whose western part lies in the Krishna basin has the highest acreages for the whole district in chillis 2,983 (1,207.18), tobacco 10,337 (4,183.23) and betel-leaves 1,500 (607.029). The Walwa taluka ranks second in these crops with chillis 2,970 (1,201.91), tobacco 5,511 (2,230.22) and betel-leaves 450 acres (182.10). The Walwa taluka is one of the most densely populated rural areas of Maharashtra. Soils here are very rich. People are generally progressive and have taken to intensive methods of cultivation.

Yerla Basin.

In the Yerla basin apart from the Chikli canal,, there is extensive well-irrigation. Crops similar to those of the Krishna basin, are raised here also, though the soils are only moderately fertile. In the Yerla basin the Khanapur taluka may be taken to represent the northern part, while the Tasgaon taluka, the southern part. A comparative statement of the crop acreages is finished below: —

* Figures in brackets indicate area in hectares while those without in acres.

As Khanapur includes a. great part of the eastern drier plateaus, it, ranks high in bajra, wheat and math.

In all these western areas of comparatively heavier rainfall the Soils grade from the deep fertile soils of the river banks through reddish brown soils to the red soils of the higher slopes. Vilayati sheng is universally used as a hedge plant for the fields in these parts. In the Yerla basin especially in the eastern part, on account of the lesser rainfall, gray or murram soils are found on the higher slopes in addition to the red soils.

Eastern Plateaus.

The eastern plateaus may be sub-divided into three groups: (a) the Khanapur plateau, (b) western plateau of jath and. (c) lower eastern plateau^: of Jath. In these eastern plateaus the extent of the black soil diminishes and the ash coloured or murram soils and the red soils become more frequent. The red soils are considered to be superior to the murram soils for crops. On the plateau on account of the cooler climate, wheat is also grown along with bajra. On these murram soils, bajra does better than jowar. Whondi, a fodder crop of jowar is widely grown in the riverine lands. On account of the drier climate, the hills and plateaus are less wooded and are very barren, fit only for rough grazing. On account of the greater lime content in the soil, the cattle are of a better class than those of the moister west. Even these barren plateaus and hilly areas are very carefully terraced with the help of talyas or bunds made of stones and mud and utilised for crops. The level in the eastern part of Jath is distinctly lower.

Though the eastern part of the Khanapur taluka is included in this region, the Jath taluka falls wholly in this region and may better represent this area. The crop acreages of Jath taluka are as below: —

The jowar crop of Jath is mostly grown in the rabi season unlike in the other talukas where it is mainly a kharif crop. It will be seen from the above figures that Khanapur and Jath together have more than two-thirds of the bajra acreage of the district and the least acreage under sugarcane.

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