Tandwa Block

Cave paintings

There are interesting pre-historic cave paintings in Saraiya and Thetangi villages in Tandwa CD Block.

Maoist activities

Jharkhand is one of the states affected by Maoist activities. As of 2012, Chatra was one of the 14 highly affected districts in the state. 5 persons were killed in Chatra district in 2012, but Maoist activities, such as arms training camps and organisation of ‘Jan Adalats’ (kangaroo courts) were on the decline. As of 2016, Chatra was identified as one of the 13 focus areas by the state police to check Maoist activities.

Overview

Chatra district forms a part of the Upper Hazaribagh Plateau, Lower Hazaribagh Plateau and northern scarp. Located at an elevation of about 450 metres (1,476 ft), the general slope of the district is from north to south. Red laterite acidic soil predominates in an area that is primarily dependent upon rain-fed agriculture. Around 60% of the district is covered with forests. The district has a population density of 275 persons per km². Around two-thirds of the families in the district live below poverty line. In the extreme south of the district some portions of Tandwa CD Block are part of North Karanpura Coalfield.

Location

Tandwa is located at 23°51′19″N 85°01′51″E. It has an average elevation of 508 metres (1,667 ft).

Tandwa CD Block is bounded by Simaria CD Block in the north, Keredari CD Block, in Hazaribagh district, in the east, Khelari CD Block, in Ranchi district, in the south and Balumath CD Block, in Latehar district, in the west.

It is located 47 km from Chatra.

Area

Tandwa CD Block has an area of 455.21 km².

Gram panchayats

There are 19 panchayats and 96 villages in Tandwa CD Block.

Gram panchayats of Tandwa CD Block/ panchayat samiti are: Padumpur, Dhangada, Misraul, Nawada alias Teliadih, Kabra, Pokla alias Kasiadih, Koyad, Saradhu, Gadilog, Tandwa, Raham, Bargano, Dahu, Benti, Kalyapur, Bahera, Kichto, Bachara I (North) and Bachara II (South).

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Tandwa CD Block had a total population of 126,319, of which 113,350 were rural and 12,969 were urban. There were 65,141 (52%) males and 53,016 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 21,938. Scheduled Castes numbered 30,104 (23.87%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 20,330 (16.12%).

Tandwa village had a population of 6,475 in 2011.

Bachra is a census town in Tandwa CD Block with a population of 12,969 in 2011.

Literacy

As of 2011 census the total number of literates in Tandwa CD Block was 65,367 (62.74% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 39,132 (72.60% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 26,235 (42.89% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 29.71%.

As of 2011 census, literacy in Chatra district was 60.18%. Literacy in Jharkhand (for population over 7 years) was 66.41% in 2011. Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.

Languages

Magahi is the local language in Chatra district. Nagpuri, Khortha, Hindi and Urdu are also spoken in the region.

Amongst the tribals in the old Hazaribagh district, (i.e. before separation of Chatra district) were Mundas, Birhors, Oraons, Santhals and Bhuiyas. They spoke their own languages.

North Karanpura Thermal Power Station

NTPC Limited is constructing the 3 X 660 MW North Karanpura Thermal Power Station at Tandwa at an appraised current (2015) estimated cost of ₹ 14,366.58 crore.

Coal mining

The North Karanpura Coalfield is spread across parts of Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Chatra and Latehar districts of Jharkhand covering an area of 1,230 km². This coalfield in the upper reaches of the Damodar Valley, has reserves of around 14 billion tonnes of coal, very little of which has been exploited. Karkatta, KD Hesalong, Manki, Churi, Bachara UG, Bachara OC, and Dakara are long established collieries south of the Damodar. North of the Damodar lies comparatively new major mines such as Piparwar Mine and Ashoka Project. 23 mines are planned in the northern sector. Those in an advanced stage of planning are: Dhadu, Purnadih, Magadh, and Amrapali. This happens to be the largest mining sector of Central Coalfields Limited.