Chapter 1

Structure, Relief and Drainage of Bundelkhand

The region of Bundelkhand (The area under study) extends

approximately between 23◦10′ and 26◦ 27′ N latitude and 78◦4′ and 81◦ 34′E

longitude. The region occupies an area of 70.000 square kilometers.

Bundelkhand is bound in the north by the Yamuna River and the Ganga

plane, in the south the Narmada and tributaries of the ken and Betwa. In the

east is bound by Vindhyan hills and Panna—Ajay garh ranges. In the west

is bound by the Sindh and Chambal rivers, and the Malwa and Udaipur-

Gwalior regions. It presents a unique set of geographical and geological

characteristics. Which have a profound effect on human development in the

region, Beautiful Mountains, Perennial rivers, Fast flowing seasonal

rivulets, A large forest area with traditional Timber, Tendu, herbal plants

and rich fertile alluvial plains are natures gifts to the region.

According to the 2001 census (table 1.1) the total population of the

Bundelekhand region was 1,55,00,526 of which 22.08 percent was

classified as a urban during 2001.

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 Table 1.1

Administrative Division

S.No. District State Area Population

1 Datia Madhya Pradesh 2691 Km2 628240

2 Tikamgarh 5048 Km2 1202998

3 Chhatarpur 8687 Km2 1474723

4 Panna 7135 Km2 856558

5 Sagar 10252 Km2 2021987

6 Damoh 7306 Km2 1083949

7 Jhansi Uttar Pradesh 5024 Km2 1746715

8 Lalitpur 5039 Km2 977447

9 Jalaun 4565 Km2 1455859

10 Hamirpur 4121.9 Km2 1042374

11 Mahoba 2884 Km2 708831

12 Banda 4413 Km2 1500253

13 Chitrakoot 345291 Km2 800592

Bundelkhand 412456.9 Km2 15500526

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 The highest decimal growth rate of the population was 34.33 of

Chitrakoot and the lowest decimal growth rate of population was 17.85 of

Hamirpur. (Census 2001) according to the 2001 census, the general sex

ratio, that is the number of females per thousand males, in the study area

was 873. In the region 49.18 percent population was literate the literacy rate

among male was 60.14 percent while among females it was only 36.62

percent.

At the time of 2001 census, the region had 45,35,265 people as main

workers which constituted 29.27 percent to the total population. The portion

of cultivators and agricultural labourers to main workers was 82.17 percent,

while the percentage of cultivators to main workers was 57.81 percent, and

portion of agricultural labourers to main workers was 24.35 percent.

Bundelkhand comprises six districts of Madhya Pradesh (Datia in

Gwalior division and Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Sagar and Damoh in

Sagar divison) and seven districts of Utter Pradesh (Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun

in Jhansi division and Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot, in

Chitrakoot division)

1.2 Relief

Bundelkhand lies between the Indo-Gangetic plain to the north and

the Vindhya Range to the south. It is a gently sloping upland, Distinguished

by barren hilly terrain with sparse vegetation, although it was historically

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forested. The plains of Bundelkhand are intersected by three Mountain

ranges, the Vindhya, Fauna and Bander chains, the highest elevation not

exceeding 600 meters above sea level. Beyond these ranges the country is

further diverse field by isolated hills rising abruptly from a common level,

and presenting from their steep and nearly inaccessible scarps eligible sites

for forts and strongholds of local kings. The general slope of the country is

towards the northeast, as indicated by the course of the rivers which traverse

or bound the territory, and finally discharge themselves into the Yamuna

River. From earliest period, older than 2500 million years, is granite-like

formation called gneiss and so called Bundelkhand granite.

Much of the area of Datia, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur,

Panna and Sagar districts, and southern portion of Chitrakoot and Mahoba

districts is Granite country, Marked by outcrops of great diversity in

mineral composition and size, ranging from small patches to large hillocks.

A striking feature of the Granite country, which has impacted settlement

pattern and agriculture, is the presence of long and narrow rocky ridges,

known as quarts reefs and dolerite dykes. Often, these walls like network

features intercept the course of streams to formation of water bodies and

enabling the creation of large artificial lakes.

From later geological area (570 to 900 million years ago) we get

diamond fields in Panna extensive deposited in Damoh. Chhatrapur and

and Sagar. Massive sandstone and limestone cliffs are seen in Vindhyan

hills which girdle the Granite country. The most recent geological deposits

are alluvium, in the form of sand, silt, or clay brought down by north

flowing rivers.

1.3 Drainage

Major drainage of the Bundelkhand region is through its numerous

perennial rivers and their tributary rivulets and seasonal nullahs, which

carry all the waters including rainwater to the Yamuna River in the north.

The principal rivers are the Sindh, Betwa, Shahzad River, Ken, Tons,

Baghain. Pahuj, Dhasan and Chambal the Kali Sindh, rising in Malwa,

marks the western frontier of Bundelkhand. Parallel to this river, but further

east, is the course of the Betwa. Still further to the east flows the ken,

followed in succession by the Baghain and Tons the Yamuna and the ken

are the only tow navigable rivers. The mean slope of the entire region is to

words north and north- east. The main tributaries of the Yamuna are Betwa;

ken Baghain, Pahuj and Dhasan most of which are important sources of

irrigation water.

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 The flow in most of the water source varies considerably according

to the season. The monsoon brings heavy floods and the highest flows in all

the rivers and tributaries during the dry season, nullahs often become dry

and the flow in the major rivers dwindles. As a consequence irrigation

becomes difficult and greater stress is placed on ground water resources.

The main water sources in the region are perennial rivers and rivulets

the numerous lakes formed through embanking the lower side of the valley

and the traditional ponds in almost every village.

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1.4 Water Sources And Availability

Through most of the year the residents of Bundelkhand experience

acute scarcity of water for agricultural and domestic use. water sources are

varied and often seasonal, ranging from ponds, tanks, lakes and streams to

open wells bore wells and irrigation canals radiating out from large- scale

dams most agriculture is single- crop rain fed with supplementary water

from private open irrigation wells. Thus, large numbers of farmers are

highly dependent on the monsoon rains to recharge these wells.

A hard rocky layer is found at shallow depths across Bundelkhand

The top bend of alluvial or porous soil which allows percolation of water is

not very deep. Hence amount of water available for extraction and period

through which water is available is much lower than in the Gangetic plain.

The problem is exacerbated in drought years. Groundwater exploitation in

hard strata areas of Bundelkhand requires scientific identification of

sandstone and limestone formation which is good absorber would have also

to be used to tap water in cracks and fissures of rocks.

1.5 Vegetation

Bundelkhand was extremely rich in terms of forest resources even up

to the lost century when about one- third to half the area was medicinal

plants. Like other parts of the country, forests here were the common
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property resources and were generated and protected by the people in the 19

the century the state took over the common properly resources. At present

the forest area in the Bundelkhand region of Utter Pradesh in only about

seven percent and actual forest cover would be less than 50 percent of the

forest area.

1.6 Climate

Bundelkhand is a hot and semi- humid climate through this is highly

variable depending on the region and the time of you’re indeed. The area is

notorious for experiencing droughts or drought like conditions in summer

and disastrous floods during the monsoon.

As with the rest of the Indian sub- continent Bundelkhand

experiences two main seasons’ monsoon and dry. The monsoon brings over

90 percent of the annual rainfall between the months of June to September

with the highest precipitation occurring in July and august. On average the

region receives 75 cm to 125 cm of rain each year. The dry plains in the

north usually receive less rain compared to the south- eastern part of the

region.

Minimum temperature varies from around 6c◦ in Chhatarpur to 12c◦

and maximum temperature varies from 38c◦ to 48c◦ Banda is one of the

hottest place in India several people die of sunstroke here every year.
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1.7 Rainfall

Bundelkhand gets moderate annual rainfall, ranging far around 750

mm in the North West to 1250 mm in the southeast. But precipitation is

erratic. A deluge is followed by long stretches of no rain. Pre monsoon

showers with lighting and hail are witnessed over 95% of the rainfall

between June and September With maximum rain generally in July-

August. However, the small amount of rainfall between Novembers to May

is also very important for agriculture in the region Rain water has little time

to penetrate the soil. The problem of poor groundwater recharges is

aggravated by the substratum of impermeable rock. Four districts of

Bundelkhand Jalaun, Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur and Mahoba fall under

the category of drought. Prone area used by the 1981 National committee

on the development of Bundelkhand area.

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 Table 1.2

Rainfall (2006-07)

S.No. Districts Rainfall (mm)

1 Datia 743.0

2 Tikamgarh 1000.0

3 Chhatarpur 1074.7

4 Panna 1176.5

5 Sagar 1230.5

6 Damoh 1246.6

7 Jhansi 879.3

8 Lalitput 880.1

9 Jalaun 786.6

10 Hamirpur 850.7

11 Mahoba 850.7

12 Banda 945.5

13 Chitrakoot 940.0

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1.8 Drought And Flood-

Due to geology and topography and pattern of rainfall received

Bundelkhand is prone to both drought and flood in most part of the entire

region an impermeable. Rocky layer is found at fairly shallow depths.

Hence runoff both rain water and soil is high the problem is aggravated by

erratic rain fall and thin forest cover in many districts. Hence drought and

flood hits some or other part of Bundelkhand every few years. The pattern

and extent of drought and flood in particular district in lost 10 year.

The region topography is marked by succession of down sliding

gradient from the south to the north. Within these successions rise a number

of plateaus when total area accounts for no less than 24 percent of the

regions geographical area such predominance of plateau is not noticeable

anywhere else in this country. Hence the rain that falls in this region gets

drained at super fast speed after creating flash flood during the rains and

causing long term water scarcity therefore. (According CRDT)

Cold And Hot Weather Season

The winter season of the Bundelkhand region mainly comprises of

the month of December and January Bundelkhand especially towards the

northern part experiences relatively cold and dry weather during this season

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temperature can fall down as low as 2c◦ to 4c◦ across the region because of

the cool breeze. Dew is very common in all the parts of Bundelkhand.

Earlier eastern region were comparatively warmer but due to persistent

change in the weather trends. Even these areas fall under intense cold wave

Cities like Banda and Mahoba are continuously seeing mercury dipping to

freezing point the winter falls around mid November and continue till

February.

Summer is this region during the month of April and continuous till

June with temperature going as high as 42c◦ the region has got a hot and dry

type of summer season the hot weather begins in March. It is a period of

continuously rising temperature and falling pressure. There is a feeble

anticyclone covering the Bay of Bengal. The surface wind is northwest in

the region. With the rise of temperature humidity falls. In April and

May the sun has advanced further north and temperature is high.

Experiences storms during hot weather season these storms may be

classified as dust storms, thunder storms and dust raising winds. These

storms retard the temperature and bring relief to people for short duration

from scorching heat. A very hot and dry wind known as loo. As soon as

also experienced in month of May and June in the Bundelkhand region. Its

temperature invariably ranges between 40c◦ and 50c◦; it may cause

sunstroke to people.

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Soil

The soils in the region have developed from Vindhyan rocks

abounding in gneiss and granites of the Deccan trap with highly ferruginous

beds and often lime stones layer of rock that is found at depths of 6 to 15

meters, several kinds and grades of soil are found across the Bundelkhand.

The soils broadly can be divided into two main groups, red and black. The

four recognized soil associations in the region are.

Table 1.3

Type Of soils

S.No. Soil Association Local Name

1 Bundelkhand- coarse grained – reddish brown Rakar

soil

2 Bundelkhand- coarse grained- gray to grayish brown Parua

soil

3 Bundelkhand- clay loom black soil Kabar

4 Bundelkhand- fine clayey black soil Mar.

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1- Bundelkhand- coarse grained- reddish brown soil-

Red soils (Rakar) are residual, slightly, acidic, coarse grained,

shallow and excessively permeable Red soil also locally called

Pathari, are found over granites, from which it is derived, and is seen

in shades of brown, yellow or gray, depending on the iron content.

The soil is rich in potash but has poor phosphate and Nitrogen

constituents. It is hence not suitable for farming. Some varieties of

trees can however be grown in it. Red soils are more predominant in

the north- western region and are usually gravely and shallow with

consequently poor moisture retention. The characteristics of theses

soils also make them vulnerable to over- irrigation.

2- Bundelkhand-coarse grained gray to grayish brown soil.

A yellowish, light- colored variety of red soil, called Parua is sandy

and has some clay content. It is well aerated and easily accepts water

Parua soil is found across Uttar Pradesh Bundelkhand and is suited

for cultivation of wheat.

3- Bundelkhand – clay loom black soil-

Two kinds of black soils are found in the region, the first known as

kabar, resembles black cotton soils of central India Its colour varies

from dark black to gray black and brownish black It has high clay
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 content It is highly adhesive, retains moisture and quickly turns dry

and into hard blocks

Kabar is found in both Bundelkhand upland and Bundelkhand

plains In Utter Pradesh it is seen in parts of Lalitpur, Banda, Jalaun

and Hamirpur. In Madhya Pradesh the soil is found across Sagar

district many other places such as the Sonar valley in Damoh district,

where one commonly found local variety is called Mund there are

also varieties with other name the soil is suitable for cultivation of

gram and Jowar but requires careful handling.

4- Bundelkhand – fine clayey black soil-

The second variety of black soil, called mar is what is

generally called black cotton soil it has high clay content and is

prone to water logging. The soil has relatively high organic matter

content, and hence can be cropped without use of fertilizers.

However like Kabar it requires careful handling. Time for plough has

to be selected carefully. The soil can be either too dry or it too wet

for tilling.

Mar is Bundelkhands most prized soil, and Wheat, gram and rice are

cropped on it. The soil is found in parts the districts of jalaun (konch tahsil),

hamirpur (maudaha, rath tahsil) Jhansi (Mauranipur, Moth tehsil) and banda

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(banda tehisl) in small patches. It is found in other districts as well such as

in southern lalitpur and parts of Sagar district.

Apart from the red and black soils, some varieties of loamy, alluvial

soils are found along river banks among these. The ranker variety is stony

and found on sloping surfaces of ravine land. It is a highly degraded kind of

coarse soil. However, where irrigation is available, the soil is suitable for

cultivation of bajra, Till and jowar. a variety of ranker, called Moti ranker,

is deteriorated mar soil and can be made productive., the soil is hence prized

in parts of Tikamgarh and Jhansi districts., where it is found, a variety of

ranker in Banda district has stones of various sizes. Dark soil found along

river beds known as kacchar and Tarai soils are used to grow water melons

and vegetables.

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References:

1- Encyclopeadia on Bundelkhand.

2- Census 2001.

3- Districtwise Socio-Economic Indicators of Madhya Pradesh

(2006-07) and Agricultural statistics of Uttar Pradesh (2006-07).

4- Survey Report of ABSSS (2006-07)

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