DISTRICT BUDGAM - A PROFILECOVERING an area of 1,371 sq. km, Budgam is the smallest district in Jammu and Kashmir accounting for nearly 1 % of the total area of the state and 6 % of its population. Bounded by the districts of Baramulla and Srinagar in the north, Pulwama in the south and the Poonch border in the south-west, Budgam is one of the youngest districts of the State, carved out as it was from the erstwhile District Srinagar in 1979. Situated at an average height of 5,281 ft above sea-level and at 75 degree E longitude and 34 degree N latitude, the district was known as Deedmarbag in ancient times.
The topography of the district is mixed with both mountainous and plain areas. The climate is of the temperate type with the upper-reaches receiving heavy snowfall in winter. The average annual rainfall of the district is 585 mm.
While the southern and south-western parts are mostly hilly, the eastern and northern parts of the district are plain. The average height of the mountains is 1,610 m and the total area under forest cover is 721 sq. km. The soil is loose and mostly denuded karewas dot the landscape.
Comprising Budgam, Beerwah and Chadoora tehsils, the district has been divided into eight blocks, which serve as prime units of economic development. Budgam has been further sliced into 108 panchayats comprising 553 villages.
The recently-concluded Census 2001 has thrown up interesting facts about the district. While educating us about some hitherto unknown aspects, these facts help to identify the areas of focus and renewed attention.
The district has recorded a population of 5,93,768, which is 6% of the State’s population. The population comprises 3,09, 574 males (52.1 %) and 2,84,194 females (47.9 %). The population density has been recorded at 433 persons per square kilometer, as compared to 99 persons per square km for the entire state.
Budgam district has registered a decadal growth rate of 26.5 per cent, which is slightly less than 29.04 per cent for the State as a whole. With a Sex-Ratio of 918 females per 1,000 males, the figure is comparatively better than that for the State, which is 900. The sex-ratio in the State has been bettered only by Pulwama (938), Kupwara (929) and Anantnag (922). The overall literacy rate has been recorded at 39.54 %, which is considerably less than the figure of 54.46% for the J&K State. While the male literacy rate is 51.23% as compared to 65.25% for the state, the female literacy rate trails at 26.60 % as against the state figure of 41.82 %. The abysmal literacy rate for the district despite its proximity to the capital is a cause of serious concern.
With a predominantly rural outlook, 86 % of the population in Budgam district live in its villages and are primarily involved in agricultural operations.
On the positive side, the total road length in the district is 11,152.70 kms, which includes 398 kms of blacktopped roads. Consequently, the average road length in Budgam district works out to 81 kms per 100 sq. kms and over 205 kms per one lakh persons, figures which are much better than the corresponding figures for the state.
Also encouraging is the agricultural infrastructure. The net area irrigated stands at nearly 60% of the total against the state average of 40 %. The area under fruit and vegetable cultivation is about 11 % of gross area sown against the state average of about 6 %. Budgam leads Valley in cultivation of vegetables while a good quantity of fruit is also grown in selected pockets.
Geographical LocationBUDGAM district came into existence as a separate administrative unit in 1979. The district comprises three tehsils of Budgam, Chadoora and Beerwah respectively, covering nearly 500 villages. Budgam is situated at an average height of 5,281 ft above sea-level and at 75 degree E longitude and 34 degree N latitude.
TOPOGRAPHY AND SOILSThe general topography of the area is both mountainous and plain. While the southern and south-western parts are mostly hilly, the eastern and northern parts are relatively plain. The average height of the mountains is 1,610 meters. The soil is loose and mostly denuded karewas dot the landscape.
CLIMATE The climate of district Budgam is of temperate type. The annual average rainfall is 585 mm.
POPULATION The total population of the district is 5,93,768, as per the latest 2001 Census figures with a percentage decadal growth rate of 26.5. The only worrying factor is the low literacy rate of 39.54 %.
RURAL URBAN RATIO With a predominately rural outlook, 86 % of the population in the district lives in its villages and are primarily involved in agricultural operations
DENSITY OF POPULATION The density of population in the district is 433 persons per sq. Km. as per 2001 Census figures as compared to the state figure of 99.
SEX-RATIO As per the Census 2001 there are 918 women for 1,000 men which is comparatively better than that of the state which is 900.The sex- ratio has been bettered only by Pulwama (938), Kupwara (929) and Anantnag (922).
CROPPING PATTERN The total geographical area of the district is 1.24 lakh hectares, which is accounted for in the revenue records. The net cultivable area is 0.595 lakh hectares. The weather conditions in the Valley as well as in the district being temperate, multiple cropping has not been successful. Paddy and maize are the main crops while ass pulses and vegetables are also grown in different pockets of the district. However, the district is trying a few experiments with unconventional farming, results of which have been encouraging so far.
INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE Comprising 25 branches of commercial banks and 16 Regional Rural Banks with Bank-Wise break up as under:-
1 JKB 18
2 SBI 06
3 PNB 02
4 UBI 01
5 EDB 16
In addition, there are 7 branches of J&K State Cooperative Bank and 4 branches of J&K Central Land Development Bank in the district. The Jammu & Kashmir Bank (JKB), is the lead bank for the district branches. Besides, JKB, the other nationalised banks have also resumed their services in the district.
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