Kokrajhar district General information
Kokrajhar is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located at Kokrajhar town. The district occupies an area of 3,169.22 km². As of 2001[update], the district had a population of 930,404.
History
Kokrajhar was originally a part of undivided Goalpara district. Till 1956, it was merely a small village with a railway station that connected it to the rest of the world. In 1957, when Bimala Prasad Chaliha was the Chief Minister of Assam, a new Civil Sub-division was created after carving out the northern part of Dhubri Sub-division and some parts of Goalpara Sub-division. This new sub-division was called Kokrajhar Sub-division. Goalpara district thus became divided into three sub-divisions. The area covered by the then Kokrajhar Sub-division consisted of five tracts of the Eastern Dooars, viz., Bijni, Sidli, Chirang, Ripu and Guma with a total area of 1569.9 square miles or 4065.88 square kilometres.
On the 1st of July, 1983 the Kokrajhar Sub-division was upgraded into Kokrajhar district with the headquarter at Kokrajhar town. There were four police stations in the new district. They were Bijni, Sidli, Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon. The area of the district extended from the Manas river in the east to the Sonkosh on the west.
In 1989, there was further reorganization of the districts and some new districts were created. Thus, about 40% of the total geographical area of Kokrajhar district was carved out for inclusion in the new district of Bongaigaon. The area delimited from Kokrajhar district to Bongaigaon covers the entire Bijni Revenue Circle along with 347.50 square kilometres of Sidli Circle. Later on 20 villages of Naikgaon G.P. with a total area 40.22 square km under Chapar Revenue Circle of Dhubri district was transferred to Kokrajhar district. The present geographical area of Kokrajhar district is estimated to be 3,169.22 square km.
The district now has two revenue sub-divisions--- Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon Sub-divisions. The river Gongia which is known as Tipkai in the southern part is the natural boundary of two civil sub-divisions. Gossaigaon town is the headquarter of Gossaigaon Sub-division.
The demand for regional autonomy by the plain tribes of Assam had its impact on the Bodo people living in this district as well. The Plains Tribe Council of Assam (PTCA) was the organization that first spearheaded the movement for a separate state of 'Udayachal' for the plain tribes of Assam living in the northern bank of the Brahmaputra Valley. Later on, the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) came to the fore and started a movement for a separate state of Bodoland. The agitation was vigorous and also violent from 1985 to 1992 till the State Government worked out an accord with the ABSU. The Bodoland Accord was signed on 20-02-93 by which the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) came into being. The present BAC area is spread across seven districts of the state.
Geography
The district is situated in a humid sub-tropical climate that is characteristic of the lower Brahmaputra Valley of Assam. There is high rainfall and humidity. The district also has the largest concentration of forest in the state. The soil in the district is fertile and suitable for paddy cultivation.
The water that flows along natural dongs and canals are the main source of irrigation for the agricultural fields. Rain water flow down from the hill tracts of Bhutan and along the foothills and reserve forests of the district. The Bhutan hills are also the source of a number of rivers that flow through the district and act as tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra that flows from east to west far from the southern boundary of Kokrajhar district. The important rivers of the district that flow from north to south are the Champamati, the Gaurang, the Tipkai and the Sonkosh. There are other rivulets like the Bhur and the colourfully named Laopani. All the rivers and rivulets flowing through the district have their origin in the Bhutan hills.
The soil throughout the district is composed of sand and clay in varying proportion ranging from pure sand in the riverbed to soft clay in different parts. The rocks found in the district are all sedimentary. In the southernmost part of district there are two small hills that are composed of metamorphic rocks. These two hills are called the Dholmara N.C. Hills and Nadanggiri Hills.
Forest
Forest is one of the most prominent features of Kokrajhar district. The present estimated area under reserved forests is roughly 1,719 sq. km. that include parts of Aie Valley Forest Division of Bongaigaon district and Guma Range of Dhubri Forest Division. The two forest divisions that fall completely under Kokrajhar district are Haltugaon and Kachugaon. Though records show that about 55% of the total geographical area of the district is under reserved forest, the actual position has dwindled to some extent due to relentless felling of trees by unscrupulous elements and encroachment of reserved forest. But the Forest Department with the active help of the District Administration is trying its best to protect the forests of the district.
Tourist Place
* Onthai Gwlao:Located in Chandrapara near the bank of river Gwrang.
* Mahamaya temple:Located on the border between Kokrajhar and Dhubri.
* Thandwi Bineswar Brahma Memorial Park:Located in Bhatermary on the bank of River Gwrang.
* Daimalu Park:Located in Kharigaon.