Haldia (community development block)

Overview

Purba Medinipur district is part of the lower Indo-Gangetic Plain and Eastern coastal plains. Topographically, the district can be divided into two parts – (a) almost entirely flat plains on the west, east and north, (b) the coastal plains on the south. The vast expanse of land is formed of alluvium and is composed of younger and coastal alluvial. The elevation of the district is within 10 metres above mean sea level. The district has a long coastline of 65.5 km along its southern and south eastern boundary. Five coastal CD Blocks, namely, Khejuri II, Contai II (Deshapran), Contai I, Ramnagar I and II, are occasionally affected by cyclones and tornadoes. Tidal floods are quite regular in these five CD Blocks. Normally floods occur in 21 of the 25 CD Blocks in the district. The major rivers are Haldi, Rupnarayan, Rasulpur, Bagui and Keleghai, flowing in north to south or south-east direction. River water is an important source of irrigation. The district has a low 899 hectare forest cover, which is 0.02% of its geographical area.

Location

Haldia is located at 22°02′N 88°04′E.

Haldia CD Block is bounded by Sutahata CD Block in the north, Diamond Harbour I and Kulpi CD Blocks, both in South 24 Parganas district, across the Hooghly, in the east, Nandigram I CD Block, across the Haldi, in the south and Mahishadal CD Block in the west.

It is located 37 km from Tamluk, the district headquarters.

Area and administration

Haldia CD Block has an area of 65.44 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 4 gram panchayats, 70 gram sansads (village councils), 24 mouzas and 24 inhabited villages. Durgachak police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Haldia.

Gram panchayats

Gram panchayats of Haldia block/ panchayat samiti are: Baruttarhingly, Chakdwipa, Debhog and Deulpota.

Population

As per 2011 Census of India Haldia CD Block had a total population of 97,992, all of which were rural. There were 50,531 (52%) males and 47,461 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 11,601. Scheduled Castes numbered 7,477 (7.63%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 288 (0.29%).

As per 2001 census, Haldia block had a total population of 81,585, out of which 41,880 were males and 39,705 were females. Haldia block registered a population growth of -16.69 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.

Villages

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Haldia CD Block (2011 census figures in brackets): Baruttar Hingli (4,840), Kasthakhali (4,171), Iswardaha Jalpai (4,640), Banskhana Jalpai (4,326), Brajalal Chak (6,366), Kunarpur (10,516), Barabajitpur (4,751), Barabari (5,051), Kismat Shibramnagar (4,150), Deulpota (4,160), Dwari Berya (5,527), Hadia (4,240) and Bar Basudebpur (6,611).

Literacy

As per 2011 census the total number of literates in Haldia CD Block was 74,262 (85.96% of the population over 6 years) out of which 40,505 (55%) were males and 33,757 (45%) were females.

As per 2011 census, literacy in Purba Medinipur district was 87.02%. Purba Medinipur had the highest literacy amongst all the districts of West Bengal in 2011. Literacy in West Bengal was 77.08% in 2011. Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.

See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate

Language

Bengali is the local language in these areas.

Religion

In 2011 census Hindus numbered 81,194 and formed 82.86% of the population in Haldia CD Block. Muslims numbered 16,643 and formed 16.98% of the population. Others numbered 155 and formed 0.16% of the population.

In 2011, Hindus numbered 4,343,972 and formed 85.24% of the population in Purba Medinipur district. Muslims numbered 743,436 and formed 14.59% of the population. In West Bengal, Hindus numbered 64,385,546 and formed 70.53% of the population. Muslims numbered 24,654,825 and formed 27.01% of the population.

Human Development Report

According to the District Human Development Report of Purba Medinipur: the density of population (2001 census) at 1,028 persons per  km² was higher than the West Bengal average of 903 persons per  km². It is an overwhelmingly rural district with the urban population being only 7.23% of the total population. The scheduled castes form 19.05% of the total population and the scheduled tribes 5.41%, the former or the two together being the lowest in the state.

The agricultural sector is the lifeline of a predominantly rural economy. It is largely dependent on the Low Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 50%) or High Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 27%) for irrigation, as the district does not have a good network of canals, compared to some of the neighbouring districts. In many cases the canals are drainage canals which get the backflow of river water at times of high tide or the rainy season.

In 2007-08, around 85% of the mouzas in the district had electric connections and around 40% of rural households had electricity. Over 90% of the rural households had access to toilet facility. In rural areas the tubewell was taken to be a reliable source of drinking water till arsenic contamination put a question mark on it. Piped water supply is a distant dream for rural people. In the rural areas of the district 6% households enjoy piped drinking water supply facility. In Purba Medinipur, around 70% of the people have a low standard of living.

The average size of land holding in Purba Medinipur, in 2005-06, was 0.73 hectares against 1.01 hectares in West Bengal. In 2001, agricultural workers plus cultivators formed 55.41% of the total workers (main plus marginal). For rice cultivation, the area cultivated under Aman (or winter crop) is one and a half times that of the area under Boro (or summer crop). Purba Medinipur’s net district domestic product derives one fifth of its earnings from fisheries, the highest amongst all the districts of West Bengal. Betelvine is a major source of livelihood in Purba Medinipur district, particularly in Tamluk and Contai subdivisions. Betelvine production in 2008-09 was the highest amongst all the districts and was around a third of the total state production. In 2008-09, Purba Mednipur produced 2,789 tonnes of cashew nuts from 3,340 hectares of land.

The report has provided CD Block-wise data for Modified Human Poverty Index of the district. The information has been modified to suit this page and published in the table alongside. The CD Block-wise mean MHPI is estimated at 24.9. 11 out of 25 CD Blocks are found to be severely deprived in respect of grand CD Block average value of MHPI (CD Blocks with lower amount of poverty are better): All the CD Blocks of Haldia and Contai subdivisions appeared backward, except Ramnagar I & II, of all the blocks of Egra subdivision only Bhagabanpur I appeared backward and in Tamluk subdivision none appeared backward.

(Note: Certain topics, such as Literacy, Education, Healthcare etc., are not covered here and are covered elsewhere in this page.)

Infrastructure

Haldia CD Block had 2,550 hectares of canals. In 2003-04 Haldia CD Block had 35 km of surfaced roads under PWD, 86 km under Zilla Parishad and 50 km surfaced roads under Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samiti.

Agriculture

In 2003-04 the farmers of Haldia CD Block could be classified as follows: Bargadars 14.05%, patta (document) holders 12.66%, small farmers 13.32%, marginal farmers 26.54% and agricultural labourers 33.44%.

As of 2003-04, Haldia CD Block had 1,906 hectares vested land, out of which 699 hectares was distributed amongst 3,793 persons.

In 2003-04 net area sown in Haldia CD Block was 5,442 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 3,922 hectares.

In 2003-04 Haldia CD Block produced 8,720 tonnes of Aman paddy from 5,100 hectares, 2,610 tonnes Boro paddy from 670 hectares and 450 tonnes of potatoes from 20 hectares.

Pisciculture

In Haldia CD Block 495 hectares was the nett area under effective pisiculture and 717 persons were engaged in the profession. Approximate annual production in 2003-04 was 8,656 qtl.

Haldia port

Haldia Dock Complex is an all-weather riverine port, 60 km from the pilotage station, with an annual capacity of 41.71 million tonnes. It comprises 3 riverine oil jetties, 14 berths inside an impounded dock and two riverine barge jetties. It was commissioned in 1977. It is located outside Haldia CD Block.

Haldia oil refinery

Haldia oil refinery is one of the ten refineries of the Indian Oil Corporation. It was commissioned in 1975. It is located outside Haldia CD Block.

Haldia urban industrial complex

Haldia petro-chemical complex is one of the largest in India. It is a major industry which created jobs directly and indirectly in and around Haldia. Haldia Petrochemicals is the lead compny. Amongst the other companies operating in the Haldia urban industrial complex are: Exide, Shaw Wallace, Tata Chemicals, Hindustan Lever and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. The entire industrial complex is located outside Haldia CD Block.

Transport

NH 116, from Kolaghat to Haldia, passes through this block. Haldia CD Block has 1 ferry services and 52 originating/ terminating bus routes.

Education

In 2003-04, Haldia CD Block had 57 primary schools with 9,360 students, 4 middle schools with 1,569 students, 6 high schools with 3,517 students and 2 higher secondary schools with 2,172 students. Haldia CD Block had 2 technical/ professional institution with 108 students and 173 institutions with 5,772 students for special and non-formal education. Haldia CD Block had 59 mass literacy centres

Healthcare

Haldia CD Block had 3 health centres, 17 clinics and 2 dispensaries with 27 beds and 4 doctors in 2003.