DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT OF SUPAUL Sand Mineral and Brick Kilns

Transcription

1 11/22/2018 DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT OF SUPAUL Sand Mineral and Brick Kilns As per Notification No. S.O (E) New Delhi, the 25 th July, 2018 of Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change, Government of India Submitted to Under Secretary Mines & Geology Department, Government of Bihar Prepared by INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENT & ECO- DEVELOPMENT, PATNA Ground Floor, Shyam Nagar Colony, Maurya Path, Khajpura P.O. B.V. College, Patna , Bihar, India - Websitewww.ieedindia.in Tel.: , Telefax M ,

2 PREFACE The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, made Environmental Clearance (EC) for mining of minerals mandatory through its Notification of 27 th January, 1994 under the provisions of Environment Protection Act, Keeping in view the experience gained in environmental clearance process over a period of one decade, the MoEF&CC came out with Environmental Impact Notification, SO 1533 (E), dated 14th September Now again Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India amended the notification S.O. 141(E) Dated 15 th January, 2016 vides.o. 3611(E) Dated 25 th July, It has been made mandatory to obtain environmental clearance for different kinds of development projects as listed in Appendix-X of the Notification. Further, in pursuance to the order of Hon ble Supreme Court dated the 27th February, 2012 in I.A. No of 2011 in Special Leave Petition (C) No of 2009, in the matter of Deepak Kumar etc. Vs. State of Haryana and Others etc., prior environmental clearance has now become mandatory for mining of minor minerals irrespective of the area of mining lease; And also in view of the Hon ble National Green Tribunal, order dated the 13th January, 2015 in the matter regarding sand mining has directed for making a policy on environmental clearance for mining leases in cluster for minor Minerals, The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in consultation with State governments has prepared Guidelines on Sustainable Sand Mining detailing the provisions on environmental clearance for cluster, creation of District Environment Impact Assessment Authority and proper monitoring of minor mineral mining using information technology and information technology enabled services to track the mined out material from source to destination. The DEIAA and DEAC will scrutinize and recommend the prior environmental clearance of mining of minor minerals on the basis of District Survey Report. This will a model and guiding document which is a compendium of available mineral resources, geographical set up, environmental and ecological set up of the district and replenishment of minerals and is based on data of various departments, published reports, journals and websites. The District Survey Report will form the basis for application for environmental clearance, preparation of reports and appraisal of projects. The Report will be updated once every five years. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 1

3 OBJECTIVES The main objective of the preparation of District Survey Report (as per the Sustainable Sand Mining Guideline) is to ensure the following Identification of mineral wealth in the district. Identification of areas of aggradations or deposition where mining can be allowed; and Identification of areas of erosion and proximity to infrastructural structures and installations where mining should be prohibited and calculation of annual rate of replenishment and allowing time for replenishment after mining in that area. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 2

4 INDEX Sl. No. Chapters Page No. Chapter-1 Introduction 4 Chapter-2 Overview of Mining Activity in the District 13 Chapter-3 The List of Mining Leases in the District with location, area and 16 period of validity Chapter-4 Details of Royalty or Revenue received from minor minerals in last 17 three years Chapter-5 Detail of Production of Sand in last three years 18 Chapter-6 Process of Deposition of Sediments in the rivers of the District 19 Chapter-7 General Profile of the District 23 Chapter-8 Land Utilization Pattern in the district: Forest, Agriculture, 25 Horticulture, Mining etc. Chapter-9 Physiography of the District 28 Chapter-10 Rainfall: month-wise 32 Chapter-11 Geology and Mineral Wealth 35 Drainage System with description of main rivers. Salient Features of Important Rivers and Streams Chapter-12 Status of Brick Kilns in Supaul district 43 References 44 Annexures DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 3

5 CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION As per Gazette Notification of 15th January, 2016 of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change a survey shall be carried out by the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) with assistance of Irrigation department, Drainage department, Forest department, Mining department and Revenue department in district of preparation of District Survey Report as per the sustainable sand mining guidelines to ensure identification of are of aggradations or deposition where mining can be allowed, and identification of areas of erosion and proximity to infrastructural structures and installation where mining should be prohibited and calculation of annual rate of replenishment and allowing time for replenishment after mining in that area. Every effort has been made to cover sand mining locations, areas and overviews of mining activity in the district with all the relevant features pertaining to geology and mineral wealth in replenishable and non-replenishable areas of rivers, stream and other sources. The mineral potential is calculated based on field investigation taking coordinates of the area and gather all relevant information and geology of the catchment area of the river or stream. Also gather all data for bricks mining, taking area coordinates with local soil quality, availability of soil etc. Also as per the site condition and location depth of mineable mineral is defined. The area of removal of mineral in the river and stream is decided on geomorphology and other factors, it can be 50% to 60% of the area of a particular river or stream. Similarly for bricks mining all data gathered. Other constituents like clay and slit are excluded as waste while calculating the mineral potential of particular river or stream. This District Survey Report shall form the basis of application for environmental, preparation of reports and appraisal of projects. The report shall be updated once every 5 years. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 4

6 Location, Area and Administrative Details:- Supaul is situated at ' ' N latitude and ' ' E Longitude. It is one of the thirty-eight Districts of Bihar. The district is a part of the Kosi division and covers an area of 2,420 sq km. The district was carved out from the erstwhile Saharsa district on 14 March Supaul town is the administrative headquarters of the district. The district is bounded by Nepal in the north, Saharsa in the south, by Araria district in the East and on the west by Madhubani district. The district comprises 4 subdivisions: Supaul, Birpur, Triveniganj and Nirmali. Supaul sub-division consists 4 blocks: Supaul, Kishanpur, Saraigadh- Bhaptiyahi and Pipra. Birpur sub-division is further divided into 3 blocks: Basantpur, Raghopur and Pratapganj. Triveniganj sub-division has 2 blocks, namely, Triveniganj and Chhatapur, and Nirmali sub-division comprises 2 blocks, namely, Nirmali and Marauna. In 2011, Supaul had a population of 2,229,076 of which male and female were 1,155,283 and 1,073,793 respectively. There was change of percent in the population compared to population as per The initial provisional data released by census India 2011, shows that density of Supaul district for 2011 is 919 people per sq. km. In 2001, Supaul district density was at 714 people per sq. km. Average literacy rate of Supaul in 2011 were compared to of If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were and respectively. With regards to Sex Ratio in Supaul, it stood at 929 per 1000 male compared to 2001 census figure of 920. Agriculture is the major occupation of this district and paddy is the main crop. Topography:- The topography of the district had been affected by the ravages of floods. After the construction of Kosi Barrage and several embankments, the sandy tracts are being reclaimed the areas of waste land, full of kans and pater (Jungles), lying mostly in Supaul district have been largely reclaimed and are yielding crops. A number of canals have been constructed under the Kosi projects which provide irrigational facilities to the districts of Supaul, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Purnia and Madhepura besides some parts of Nepal. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 5

7 The entire district lies north of the Ganges and is comprised of planes. The eastern portion of the district is more fertile and more densely populated. The deposits left by the turbulent Kosi have affected the fertility of the soil but progressive implementation of the Kosi project has turned the district into veritable granary. Forest:- There is no forest available in the district but there is a plan for planting various types of trees, viz., Sisam, Eucalyptes, Gulmohar, Sakhua, etc., along the Kosi canal under the Forest Extension Division, Purnia. Basin/Sub-Basin and Drainage:- The river Kosi flows through the western parts of the district and is considered as the sorrow of not only this district, but for whole of the Bihar state. Tilyuga Chhaimra, Kali, Tilawe, Bhenga, Mirchaiya, Sursar are the tributaries to it. The Kosi River, an important northern tributary of the Ganga River, originates at an altitude of 7000 m above msl in the Tibet Himalayas and is the third largest Himalayan River, after the Indus and the Brahmputra. The Supaul district is located at the north eastern parts of Bihar state, which is situated in the middle parts of Ganga Basin. The district falls in the Kosi Sub-basin. The river has remained dynamic from historic parts and as such few palaeochannels of the river are traced in the district. Mis-fit channels with significant drainage during monsoon flow across the district towards south. The Kosi River has formed a megafan of ~13,000 km2 in Bihar state. The Supaul district is situated at the northern parts of the mega fan. The Kosi River and others such as Baghmati, Kamla-Balan and Adhwara group of rivers in the northern Bihar plains are highly unstable due to steep slope and high rate of burial of the riverbeds with channel sediments, since the sediment load of these rivers is too high. They very often create breaches in their embankments and inundate the adjoining low-lying areas, thereby causing floods. The breach of left embankment of Kosi in 2008 took place at Kusaha, ~12 km upstream from Bhimnagar in Supaul district. It was devastating for life and property. Land use, Agriculture and Irrigation Practices:- Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in Supaul district. In general, there are four agricultural seasons in one year; (i) Bhadai (ii) Aghani (iii) Rabi & (iv) Garma. During Rabi the important crops, which are grown in the district include wheat, rice, corn, mustard, jawar etc. Paddy is mainly grown during June to November. The climate allows round the year vegetable cultivation of cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, radish, chili, capsicum, beans and long beans, gourd, potato, onion, coriander, turmeric, ginger, Garlic etc. The staple cereal of this district is rice. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 6

8 Irrigation plays a vital role in the agriculture in this district. Though, the district falls in the eastern Kosi command area and a major part of the irrigation in the district is met from groundwater. In summer, canal system remains dry. Again, due to very heavy siltation, capacity of the canal reduces significantly. It is observed that groundwater forms a major irrigation source in the district with more than 50 % of the net irrigated area getting the source from groundwater (NIC , Govt. of Bihar). The water level remains shallow and the people try to have their own tube well in the agr-filed with a local design. Bamboo wells, constructed within a depth of 5-15 m are used locally. However, selling and buying of water for irrigation is a usual practice in the district. Irrigation, In general farmers buy water for their crops from the neighbor. As on , the net sown area in the district was at 1328 km2 with the average agriculture intensity at 151%. The district possesses an area of 677 km2, which is sown more than once. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 7

9 Location of Supaul district in the map of Bihar:- DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 8

10 The district is divided into 4subdivisions and 11 blocks which are as under:- Division District Sub-division Blocks Kosi Supaul Supaul Sadar,Triveniganj,Birp ur,nirmali Supaul,Kishanpur,Saraigarh- Bhaptiyahi,Pipra,Triveniganj,Ragho pur,chhatapur,nirmali,marauna,bas antpur,pratapganj. Hydrogeology of Supaul:- Water Bearing Formations The Supaul district is underlain by Quaternary Alluvium down to hundreds of meters depth. Thick sand bodies with minor interleaves of mud make prolific aquifer in the Kosi megafan area. The top ~15 m is grey coloured fine sand, whereas at deeper levels, the coarseness of sand increases. Shallow tube wells in the area have the potential of yielding 50 m3 /hr for nominal drawdown of 2 m only. The clay capping is thin (< 1 m to 5 m) and even absent at many places. In general, the Kosi megafan shows two major formations (Singh et al., 1993); the upper formation is of 8-10 m thickness (less commonly from 16 to 40 m) and is composed typically of fine sand and mud, whereas the lower formation is thicker (> 60 m) and composed up of in general medium to coarse sand to gravel. The lower formation is thought to have been deposited by a highly braided Kosi River during the Late Quaternary. The upper formation represents the sequence of strata deposited by the Kosi during the DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 9

11 latest sweep across the megafan from east to west. The upper formation forms the younger Alluvium, while the lower one is thought to belong to an older sequence. Source: Centre for Ground Water Board (CGWB) Climate and Rainfall:- The area has warm and humid climate with high temperature and medium to high rainfall. The temperatures are lowest during December-January with an average minimum of 8 0 C to 10 0 C and maximum of 24 0 C to 25 0 C. The temperatures in the hottest months of April to June are minima 23 0 C to 25 0 C and maxima 35 0 C to 38 0 C. The normal rainfall for the district stands at 1404 mm. Most of the rainfall (80% to 90%) is received from mid-june to mid-october. The late September October rains (locally known as Hathia ) are very crucial to agriculture in the region and their timing and distribution make all the difference between plenty and scarcity. The last 18 years annual rainfall data shows that the variation within the minimum of 669 mm (2006) to a maximum of 1794 mm (1999). After the year 1999/2000, there has been an overall decrease in the annual rainfall. Rivers:- Kosi is the most important river of the district. It rises from the Himalayas. It is also known as Sapt Kosi for its seven upper tributaries. Its three tributaries Sun Deosi, Arun and Tamur meet at Tribeni and form the Sapt Kosi. It enters the plains at Chatra. A number of rivers such as the Tilguga, the Bhuthhi Balan, the Sugarwe, the Sonior, the Jangar Balan, the Kamla and the Bagmati join the Kosi on its right bank on the plain. The Kosi is notorious for its vagaries and was known as Bihar s river of sorrow. During the rainy season it swells and inundates large tracts of the district. It has changed its course a number of times and at present it has shifted its course to the west and flows near Nirmali and Madhepur, the latter being a part of Madhubani district. The other important rivers of the district emerge from the DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 10

12 Himalayas and fall into the Khagari river which itself joins the Kosi. These rivers are the Tiljuga, the Bati, the Dhimra, the Tilabe, the Parwan, the Dhusan, the Chalausi, the Loran, the Katna, the Daus and the Ghagri. Soils:- The district in general possesses alluvial soil. The soils are of poorly drained type. The areas close to the Kosi channels possess soil types of sandy loam, loamy sand and sand character, whereas, the areas away from the river channels consist of silty sand to sandy silt in nature. The soils in general are fine textured away from the river course and rivulets and coarse textured along their courses. Source: Centre for Ground Water Board (CGWB) Flora and Fauna:- Paddy and wheat are grown in the alluvial and reclaimed soils the Kosi affected areas still contain Kans and Pater forest, though reclamation is in progress. Small trees such as babul, jhaua, Harjora etc., and water berries such as Makhana, Ramdana and Motha grass are also found, Sabai Grass, Munj and varieties of cane etc., also grow in the district. Though the Kosi has destroyed a large number of fruit bearing trees, the district still produces a large quantity of mangoes. Other common trees are Mahua, Jackfruit, Plantain, tamarind, bair, Jamun and Kath jamun, Khajur, Sal, Sesum, and Semal, Lichi, Guava, lemon watermelon,coconut and betelnut are also grown. The denudation of forests, the reclamation of Kans and Pater infested waste-lands, and indiscriminate hunting in the past have led to the decline of tiger, panther, hog-deer, chital, wildboar, etc., Nilgai, hares, and Khikhir are still found. Jackals, monkeys, wolves are also common. Several deadly species of reptiles such as cobra and karait and various kinds of lizards are also found. Jungle crow, house crow, tree pie, crow peasant, grey hornbill, little brown dove, grey partridge, white breasted water hen, bronze-winged jacana, curlew- stint black ibis, glossy ibis, white necked stork, cattle egret pond heron, pink headed duck, silli or cotton teal, white fronted goose, large whistling teal, brahminy duck, eastern grey duck, marbled teal and eastern goosander are the different varieties of birds found in the district of Supaul. The reclamation of water pools and indiscriminate shooting have led to the extinction of the pink-headed duck, marbled teal, copperbreasted teal and floricans. Various species of ducks, mallard, nakta comb duck and geese are no longer found. Connectivity: - Supaul is well connected to the rest of the state and India by rail, road and air connections. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 11

13 By Road A convenient road network covers Supaul connecting it to a number of important cities in Bihar, such as: Patna (255 km), Muzaffarpur (137 km), which are in turn linked to rest of the country. Other important destinations in Bihar, namely; Bodhgaya (363kms), Rajgir (265kms), Nalanda (250kms) lie close by.owing to the vagaries of the Kosi river, the communications, viz., roadways, railways and waterways of the district have been affected greatly. After the independence, however, a number of metalled and unmetalled roads have been constructed. The district is connected by the NH-106 & 107 from Patna and Kolkata. SH- 66 & 76 also passes through the district. The East West corridor (National Highway 57) is passing through Simrahi Bazar, Supaul and Raghopur. Besides, a number of bridges have been constructed in the different parts of the district. By Train A branch line of N.E. railway running from Mansi to Forbesganj enters this district at Garhbaruari station. Supaul Rail Way Station, Rail Way Station are the very nearby railway stations to Supaul. Rail Way Station (near to Supaul), Supaul Rail Way Station (near to Supaul) are the Rail way stations reachable from near by towns. How ever Darbhanga Jn Rail Way Station is major railway station 78 KM near to Supaul. By Air Patna the capital city of Bihar is the nearest Airport from Supaul. Patna is linked by regular flights to important cities like: Delhi, Kolkata Varanasi, Lucknow and so on. One can also reach Patna from Katmandu. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 12

14 CHAPTER - 2 OVERVIEW OF MINING ACTIVITY IN THE DISTRICT The topography of the district had been affected by the ravages of floods. After the construction of Kosi Barrage and several embankments, the sandy tracts are being reclaimed the areas of waste land, full of kans and pater (Jungles), lying mostly in Supaul district have been largely reclaimed and are yielding crops. A number of canals have been constructed under the Kosi projects which provide irrigational facilities to the districts of Supaul, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Purnia and Madhepura besides some parts of Nepal.The entire district lies north of the Ganges and is comprised of planes. The eastern portion of the district is more fertile and more densely populated. The deposits left by the turbulent Kosi have affected the fertility of the soil but progressive implementation of the Kosi project has turned the district into veritable granary. General Geology:- The district is underlain by thick unconsolidated sediment of Quaternary period. Geological survey of India has given the following classification based on nature of alluvial deposits System Series Formation Lithology Quaternary Upper Holocene Diara Formation Alteration of fine grey silt and clay Unclassified Holocene Kosi Formation Grey silt and clay alteration with fine to medium sand Purnea Formation Pale yellow to grey silt and silty clay, fine sand, grey medium to coarse sand with thin partings of sand and fine silt DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 13

15 Availability of Mineral resources:- The mineral resources of Supaul district playing massive role in social and economic development of the district. Available mineral resources in the district:- Sand clay Approach to Sand Mining:- River sand mining is a common practice as habitation concentrates along the rivers and the mining locations are preferred near the markets or along the transportation route, for reducing the transportation cost. River sand mining can damage private and public properties as well as aquatic habitats. Excessive removal of sand may significantly distort the natural equilibrium of a stream channel. Main objectives of Sustainable Sand Mining:- To ensure that sand and gravel mining is done in environmentally sustainable and socially responsible manner. To ensure availability of adequate quantity of aggregate in sustainable manner. To improve the effectiveness of monitoring of mining and transportation of mined out material: Ensure conservation of the river equilibrium and its natural environment by protection and restoration of the ecological system. Avoid aggradations at the downstream reach especially those with hydraulic structures such as jetties, water intakes etc. Ensure that the rivers are protected from bank and bed erosion beyond its stable profile. No obstruction to the river flow, water transport and restoring the riparian rights and in stream habitats. Avoid pollution of river water leading to water quality deterioration. To prevent depletion of ground water reserves due to excessive draining out of ground water. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 14

16 To prevent ground water pollution by prohibiting sand mining on fissures where it works as filter prior to ground water recharge. To maintain the river equilibrium with the application of sediment transport principles in determining the locations, period and quantity to be extracted Streamlining and simplifying the process for grant of environmental clearance (EC) for sustainable mining. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 15

17 CHAPTER - 3 LIST OF MINING LEASES IN THE DISTRICT WITH LOCATION, AREA AND PERIOD OF VALIDITY List of Mining Leases in the District with location, area and period of validity is attached as Annexure-1 Sl. Mining Unit Area Pe r Name Name of Granted Annual Present Status No. Block (In iod Of of Minerals Capacity Location Hect.) (In Mino Concession as per E.C. r Yr Min /Mining s eral ) s Plants/To r in lakh MT. 1 Dagmara Sand Shri Upendra This Sand Ghat Prasad Lalman Patti Singh, S/o- Late Shri Lease area is mining Ghat ram Pramod condition now. Singh, (Koshi River) ward no 12, Nirmali, P.O+ P.s- Nirmali, Supaul. 2 Dina Patti Sand Do This Sand Ghat Ghat Lease area is mining (Parwana condition now. River) 3 Lachhmini ya Ghat (Saptgand hi River) Sand DO This Sand Ghat Lease Area is Fail now. Because A and B coordinates is beside of river and C and D DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 16

18 coordinates is out of river. And River Water is Flow in the Center. 4 Amha Sand Do This Sand Ghat Laukaha Ghat Lease area is mining (Tilawe River) condition now. 5 Jalahi Patti Ghat (Vanmad har River) Sand Do This Sand Ghat Lease area is mining condition now. 6 Rampur Sand Do This sand ghat lease Dharamp area is fail now. atti Ghat Because 60% (Tilawe River) portion is cover by agricultural work done in the plot. Details of new identified sand Ghats is attached in annexure-i DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 17

19 CHAPTER - 4 DETAILS OF ROYALTY OR REVENUE RECEIVED FROM MINOR MINERALS IN LAST THREE YEARS Sl. No. Financial Year Total (Rs. In Lakh) Total DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 18

20 CHAPTER - 5 DETAILS OF PRODUCTION OF SAND IN LAST THREE YEARS Sl.No. Year Production Total - Note- No any up to date data about production of sand in last three years. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 19

21 CHAPTER - 6 PROCESS OF DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENTS IN THE RIVERS OF THE DISTRICT PROCESS:- Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. Sediments are most often transported by water. Sediment is transported based on the strength of the flow that carries it and its own size, volume, density, and shape. Stronger flows will increase the lift and drag on the particle, causing it to rise, while larger or denser particles will be more likely to fall through the flow. Deposition is the processes where material being transported by a river is deposited. Deposition occurs when a river loses energy. This can be when a river enters a shallow area (this could be when it floods and comes into contact with the flood plain) or towards its mouth where it meets another body of water. Rivers flood on a regular basis. The area over which they flood is known as the floodplain and this often coincides with regions where meanders form. Meanders support the formation of flood plains through lateral erosion. When rivers flood the velocity of water slows. As the result of this the river's capacity to transport material is reduced and deposition occurs. This deposition leaves a layer of sediment DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 20

22 across the whole floodplain. After a series of floods layers of sediment form along the flood plain. Larger material and the majority of deposition occur next to the river channel. This is the result of increased friction (with the flood plain) causing the velocity of the river to slow and therefore rapidly reduce its ability to transport material. This leaves a ridge of higher material next to the river channel on both banks of the river known as a levee. If the upwards velocity approximately equal to the settling velocity, sediment will be transported Downstream entirely as suspended load. If the upwards velocity is much less than the settling velocity, but still high enough for the sediment to move, it will move along the bed as bed load by rolling, sliding, and saltating (jumping up into the flow, being transported a short distance then settling again). If the upwards velocity is higher than the settling velocity, the sediment will be transported high in the flow as wash load. As there are generally a range of different particle sizes in the flow, it is common for material of different sizes to move through all areas of the flow for given stream conditions. The various factors governing the occurrence and deposition of sand is country rock i.e. geological disposition, climate, and rainfall, water load physical parameters of river and velocity of water current. Rivers have a lot of energy and because they have energy, they do stuff. The obvious things rivers do with their energy is flow but, besides this, they also transport load, erode load and erode the channel through which they flow. Erosion is the breaking down of material by an agent. In the case of a river, the agent is water. The water can erode the river s channel and the river s load. A river s load is bits of eroded material, generally rocks, which the river transports until it deposits its load. Capacity & Competence Rivers can only carry so many loads depending on their energy. The maximum volume of load that a river can carry at a specific point in its course is called the age river s capacity. The biggest sized particle that a river could carry at a specific point is called the river s competence. Deposition to transport load a river needs to have energy so when a river loses energy it is forced to deposit its load. There are several reasons why a river could lose energy. If the river s discharge is reduced then the river will lose energy because it isn t flowing DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 21

23 as quickly anymore. This could happen because of a lack of precipitation or an increase in evaporation. Increased human use (abstraction) of a river could also reduce its discharge forcing It deposits its load. If the gradient of the river s course flattens out, the river will deposit its load because it will be travelling a lot slower. When a river meets the sea a river will deposit its load because the gradient is generally reduced at sea level and the sea will absorb a lot of energy. As rivers get nearer to their mouths they flow in increasingly wide, gentle sided valleys. The channel increases in size to hold the extra water which the river has to receive from its tributaries. As the river gets bigger it can carry larger amounts of material. This material will be small in size, as larger rocks will have broken up on their way from the mountains. Much of the material will be carried in suspension and will erode the river banks by abrasion. When rivers flow over flatter land, they develop large bends called meanders. As a river goes around a bend most of the water is pushed towards the outside causing increased erosion. The river is now eroding sideways into its banks rather than downwards into its bed, a process called lateral erosion. On the inside of the bend, in contrast, there is much less water. The river will therefore be shallow and slow-flowing. It cannot carry as much material and so sand and shingle will be deposited. This is called a point bar or slip off slope Due to erosion on the outside of a bend and deposition on the inside, the shape of a meander will change over a period of time. Notice how erosion narrows the neck of the land within the meander. In time, and usually during a flood, the river will cut right through the neck. The river will then take the new, shorter route. The fastest current, called the thalweg, will now tend to be in the centre of the river, and so deposition is likely to occur in gentler water next to the banks. Eventually deposition will block off the old meander to leave an oxbow lake. The oxbow lake will slowly dry up, only refilling after heavy rain or during a flood. Streams lose velocity and make deposits when their gradient decreases, when the volume of water decreases, when there is an increase in cross section, when they encounter obstructions, or when they enter still water. They deposit alluvial fans, alluvial cones, piedmont alluvial plains, channel fill, bars, flood plains and deltas. Rivers in the Gangetic plains have a habit of meandering, i.e., changing course. In India this is a prominent feature of rivers which swell in the monsoon, occasionally suddenly, and the torrential movement carves out a new course in the soft alluvial plain. The Ganga River, in Patna, has DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 22

24 meandered and migrated northwards in the Patliputra area. This migration has resulted in deposition of earth on the south [right] bank of the river and created a massive space of a few hundred hectares between the urban development line and the active river channel. A river system can be divided into three subsystems:- Collecting system (branches) -- consisting of a network of tributaries in the headwater region, collects and funnels water and sediment to the main stream. Transporting system (trunk) -- the main trunk stream, which functions as a channel way through which water and sediment move from the collecting area toward the ocean. (Erosion and deposition also occur in a river's transporting system) Dispersing system (roots) -- consists of a network of distributaries at the mouth of a river (delta), where sediment and water are dispersed into an ocean, a lake, or a dry basin Removal of washed in Silt Load:- Geologically, the district forms part of the vast Indo-Gangetic alluvial tract. The origin of the Indo -`Gangetic tract as a whole is now attributed to the sag in the earth crust formed in the upper Eocene times between Gondwana land and the raising of Himalaya belt. The economic minerals found in the district are Sand, Soil and Kankar. The sand deposits being an integral part of the dynamic river system to which it belongs. Therefore, as a part of natural cycle, the monsoon flow of every river carries with it replenishment of silt and washed out soil and clay from upstream areas in the catchment. This silt shall be removed during the sieving of sand before it is loaded into truck/tipper/trailer to carry to the consumers. Sand mining is critical to infrastructure development around the globe. Sand is an essential minor mineral used extensively across the country as a useful construction constituent and variety of other uses in sports, agriculture, glass making (a form of sand with high silica content) etc. The rivers are the most important source of Sand. It acts as source of transportation and deposition of sand etc. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 23

25 CHAPTER-7 GENERAL PROFILE OF THE DISTRICT Sl.No. ITEMS STATISTICS 01 GENERAL INFORMATION i) Geographical area (Sq.km) 2420 ii) Administrative Divisions Supaul, Birpur, Triveniganj and Nirmali Number of Tehsil/Block Number of Panchayat Villages iii) Population (As on 2011 Census): Rural Urban Total 2,123, ,558 2,229,076 iv) Average Annual Rainfall (mm) GEOMORPHOLOGY Major physiographic units Younger Alluvium with Newer Flood Plains Major Drainages Kosi River 03 LAND USE (sq.km ) a) Forest area: Nil b) Net area sown: 1328 sq. km c) Total Cropped area: 1328 sq. km 04 MAJOR SOIL TYPES Sandy loam, Loam, silty loam 05 IRRIGATION BY DIFFERENT SOURCES Area (ha) (Area in ha, Govt. of Bihar ) Dug wells and Tube wells 0 (2001 MI Census) & 16929, 169 km2 (2001 MI Census). Canal 340 km2 Net irrigated area 620 km2 Gross irrigated area 1220 km2 06 PREDOMINANT GEOLOGICAL Quaternary Alluvium FORMATIONS HYDROGEOLOGY Major Water bearing formations Sand zones in quaternary Pre-monsoon Depth to water level during 2011 alluvium, Post-monsoon Depth to water level during 2011 Long term water level trend in 10 years ( ) m bgl m bgl No significant decline DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 24

26 in m/yr 07 GROUND WATER EXPLORATION BY CGWB (As on ) No. of wells drilled (EW, OW, PZ, SH = Total) Nil Depth Range (m) - Discharge - Storativity (S) - Transmissivity (m2/day) - 08 GROUND WATER QUALITY Fresh and potable Presence of Chemical constituents more than Iron permissible limit (e.g., EC, F, As, F ) 09 DYNAMIC GROUND WATER RESOURCES (as on 31st March 2009) in mcm Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resources ha.m Net Annual Ground Water Draft ha.m Projected Demand for Domestic and Industrial Uses 5391 ha.m upto 2025 Stage of Ground Water Development 32.2% 10 MINING SCENARIO Total No. Mining Leases (Major Minerals) - Total Area of Mining Leases (Major Minerals) - Total Number of Quarry Lease (Minor Minerals) - Total area of Quarry Lease - Total Roylty or Revenue Received from Minor - Minerals in Total No. Notified Sand Lease - Total Area of sand Lease - 11 BRICK KILNS - Total no. of Brick Kilns 109 Source: Centre for Ground Water Board (CGWB) DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 25

27 DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 26

28 CHAPTER-8 LAND UTILIZATION PATTERN IN THE DISTRICT: FOREST, AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, MINING Forest:- There is no forest available in the district but there is a plan for planting various types of trees, viz., Sisam, Eucalyptes, Gulmohar, Sakhua, etc., along the Kosi canal under the Forest Extension Division, Purnia. Agriculture:- Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in Supaul district. In general, there are four agricultural seasons in one year; (i) Bhadai (ii) Aghani (iii) Rabi & (iv) Garma. During Rabi the important crops, which are grown in the district include wheat, rice, corn, mustard, jawar etc. Paddy is mainly grown during June to November. The climate allows round the year vegetable cultivation of cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, radish, chili, capsicum, beans and long beans, gourd, potato, onion, coriander, turmeric, ginger, Garlic etc. The staple cereal of this district is rice. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 27

29 Horticulture:- Supaul district is under Low Level of Production in Horticultural Crops - The low level of horticultural development has found in the district. These districts come under the periphery areas where there is a great lack of infrastructure regarding horticultural crops. Floriculture in the district is not developing in the same fashion as compared to other crops. So, there is need to emphasis on these crops. Horticulture cultivation is always advantageous. It paves the ways and means of development. It has been observed that it could be developed in the state if the government provides protection and subsidies to the farmers. There is a great need to emphasis on marketing management and boosting the irrigation resource of the state along with that there is need of awareness on profitability and techno managerial skill among farmers to promote the horticultural cultivation in the state. Mining:- The mineral resources of Supaul district playing massive role in social and economic development of the district. Available mineral resources in the district Sand clay DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 28

30 Especially Sand mining activities is playing a significant role industrial, social and economic development of the district. The sand mining carried out throughout the district mainly in stretch of Koshi River. Landuse details are given in below table:- 01 LAND USE (sq.km.) a) Forest area: Nil b) Net area sown: 1328 c) Total Cropped area: AREA UNDER PRINCIPAL CROPS IRRIGATION BY DIFFERENT SOURCES Area (sq.km) (Area in ha, Govt. of Bihar ) Dug wells and Tube wells 0 (2001 MI Census) & 16929, 169 km2 (2001 MI Census). Canal 340 km2 Net irrigated area 620 km2 Gross irrigated area 1220 km2 DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 29

31 CHAPTER-9 PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE DISTRICT The Bihar state can be broadly subdivided into three major unit s i.e., main physical subdivisions is the Norhern Mountains, the Gangetic Plains and the Central Highlands. Northern Mountains comprises the Himalayan ranges including their foot hills. The Gangetic plains, situated between the Himalayas and the Deccan plateau,constitute the most fertile plains of the sub-basin ideally suited for intensive cultivation.the Central highlands lying to the south of the Great plains consists of mountains, hills and plateaus intersected by valleys and river plains.they are largely covered by forests.aravali uplands, Bundelkhand upland, Malwa plateau, Vindhyan and Narmada valley lie in the this region.predominant soil types found in the sub- basin are sandy, loamy, clay and their combinations such as sandy loam, loam, silty clay loam and loamy sand soils. PHYSIOGRAPHY MAP OF THE BIHAR DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 30

32 Geomorphology:- The district forms a part of the Kosi megafan. The river is known for its notorious shifting and channel abandonment approximately in every 25 years. The district Supaul is subjected to frequent flooding related to either shifting of the river Kosi or bank over-topping/breaching by floodwater. Sweeping of the river in the megafan has created the alluvial landscape with abandoned channels and the flood plains. The abandoned channels exhibit sand bodies of huge dimension, often exposed or buried under thin veneers (~1.0 m) of mud. They also characterize the depressions in the megafan surface, which are prone to water-logging. Often the channels are occupied by misfit channels of smaller dimension. During lean period, these channels get water from the aquifers. These smaller channels rework and redistribute the flood plain sediments, and hence contribute in the evolution of the flood plain architecture. The land surface in the district slopes southward with cm/km at the northern half, while it is cm/km at the southern half with an average value of ~ 40 cm/km. The reach segment of the Kosi River within the district Supaul is wide (6 to 8 km) and highly braided in nature. Soil:- The district in general possesses alluvial soil. The soils are of poorly drained type. The areas close to the Kosi channels possess soil types of sandy loam, loamy sand and sand character, whereas, the areas away from the river channels consist of silty sand to sandy silt in nature. The soils in general are fine textured away from the river course and rivulets and coarse textured along their courses. Source: NBSS& LUP, Regional Centre, Kolkata DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 31

33 Natural divisions:- The entire district lies north of the Ganges and is comprised of planes. The eastern portion of the district is more fertile and more densely populated. The deposits left by the turbulent Kosi have affected the fertility of the soil but progressive implementation of the Kosi project has turned the district into veritable granary. The topography of the district had been affected by the ravages of floods. After the construction of Kosi Barrage and several embankments, the sandy tracts are being reclaimed the areas of waste land, full of kans and pater (Jungles), lying mostly in Supaul district have been largely reclaimed and are yielding crops. A number of canals have been constructed under the Kosi project which provides irrigational facilities to the districts of Supaul, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Purnia and Madhepura besides some parts of Nepal. Rivers:- Kosi is the most important river of the district. It rises from the Himalayas. It is also known as Sapt Kosi for its seven upper tributaries. Its three tributaries Sun Deosi, Arun and Tamur meet at Tribeni and form the Sapt Kosi. It enters the plains at Chatra. A number of rivers such as the Tilguga, the Bhuthhi Balan, the Sugarwe, the Sonior, the Jangar Balan, the Kamla and the Bagmati join the Kosi on its right bank on the plain. The Kosi is notorious for its vagaries and was known as Bihar s river of sorrow. During the rainy season it swells and inundates large tracts of the district. It has changed its course a number of times and at present it has shifted its course to the west and flows near Nirmali and Madhepur, the latter being a part of Madhubani district. The other important rivers of the district emerge from the Himalayas and fall into the Khagari river which itself joins the Kosi. These rivers are the Tiljuga, DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 32

34 the Bati, the Dhimra, the Tilabe, the Parwan, the Dhusan, the Chalausi, the Loran, the Katna, the Daus and the Ghagri. CHAPTER-10 RAINFALL: MONTH-WISE The area has warm and humid climate with high temperature and medium to high rainfall. The temperatures are lowest during December-January with an average minimum of 8 0 C to 10 0 C and maximum of 24 0 C to 25 0 C. The temperatures in the hottest months of April to June are minima 23 0 C to 25 0 C and maxima 35 0 C to 38 0 C. The normal rainfall for the district stands at 1404 mm. Most of the rainfall (80% to 90%) is received from mid-june to mid-october. The late SeptemberOctober rains (locally known as Hathia ) are very crucial to agriculture in the region and their timing and distribution make all the difference between plenty and scarcity. The last 18 years annual rainfall data shows that the variation within the minimum of 669 mm (2006) to a maximum of 1794 mm (1999). After the year 1999/2000, there has been an overall decrease in the annual rainfall. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 33

35 Figure (A) General annual rainfall distribution pattern in Supaul district of Bihar. Most of the rainfall comes during June to October. (B) Year vs. annual rainfall plot depicting the trend (polynomial) of rainfall in the region during last 18 years. In Supaul, the climate is warm and temperate. The summers are much rainier than the winters in Supaul. This climate is considered to be Cwa according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. The average annual temperature in Supaul is 25.3 C. Precipitation here averages 975 mm. The driest month is December. There is 1 mm of precipitation in December. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in July, with an average of 258 mm. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 34

36 With an average of 30.7 C, May is the warmest month. The lowest average temperatures in the year occur in January, when it is around 16.7 C. Avg. Temperature ( C) Min. Temperature ( C) Max. Temperature ( C) Avg. Temperature ( F) Min. Temperature ( F) Max. Temperature ( F) January February March April May June July August September October November December DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 35

37 Precipitation / Rainfall (mm) January February March April May June July August September October November December The precipitation varies 257 mm between the driest month and the wettest month. The variation in temperatures throughout the year is 14.0 C. Geology: - CHAPTER-11 GEOLOGY AND MINERAL WEALTH The district is underlain by thick unconsolidated sediment of Quaternary period. Geological survey of India has given the following classification based on nature of alluvial deposits System Series Formation Lithology Quaternary Upper Holocene Diara Formation Alteration of fine grey silt and clay Unclassified Holocene Kosi Formation Grey silt and clay alteration with fine to medium sand Purnea Formation Pale yellow to grey silt and silty clay, fine sand, grey medium to coarse sand with thin partings of sand and fine silt Regional Geology:- Geologically, it represents nearly two third of Bihar is under cover of Ganga basin composed of alluvium and masks the nature of basement rocks. Geological succession and their occurrences distribution DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 36

38 Age Geology Occurrences Quaternary Alluvial Deposits (sand, clay, silt, North Bihar Plain & Central Bihar Plain Fragments) Tertiary Sand Stones& Clay Stones North Champaran Hills Gondwana Coal Measures, Forming a series Banka District of small outlier basins Vindhyans Sandstones, shales, Limestones Parts of Bahbhua and Rohtas Disricts etc. Satpura Schist,Phyllite,Quartzite Part of Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura and Munger District Proterozoic Schist, amphibolites, quartzite, Nawada, Jamui and Banka granites, dolerites and pegmatites Archaean Gneisses, Granites,Schists,Phyllites,quartzit es, amphibolites & intrusive all metamorphosed sedimentary and igneous rocks Part of Aurangabad,Gaya, Nawada,Jamui, Banka and Bhagalpur Geohydrology of the district:- Water Bearing Formations The Supaul district is underlain by Quaternary Alluvium down to hundreds of meters depth. Thick sand bodies with minor interleaves of mud make prolific aquifer in the Kosi megafan area. The top ~15 m is grey coloured fine sand, whereas at deeper levels, the coarseness of sand increases. Shallow tube wells in the area have the potential of yielding 50 m3 /hr for nominal drawdown of 2 m only. The clay capping is thin (< 1 m to 5 m) and DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 37

39 even absent at many places. In general, the Kosi megafan shows two major formations (Singh et al., 1993); the upper formation is of 8-10 m thickness (less commonly from 16 to 40 m) and is composed typically of fine sand and mud, whereas the lower formation is thicker (> 60 m) and composed up of in general medium to coarse sand to gravel. The lower formation is thought to have been deposited by a highly braided Kosi River during the Late Quaternary. The upper formation represents the sequence of strata deposited by the Kosi during the latest sweep across the megafan from east to west. The upper formation forms the younger Alluvium, while the lower one is thought to belong to an older sequence. The lithological logs indicate that the ground water occurs under unconfined condition. In Supaul district. Shallow tube wells are suitable up to a depth of 50 m with discharge of 20 to 40 m3 /hr. The deep tube well of more than 100 m depth can also be constructed with estimated discharge of m3 /hr. Whereas Bamboo Boring of 20 to 25 m depth tapping water table aquifer can yield 10 to 20 m 3 /hr with a safe draw down. Depth to Water Level:- Depth to water level in the Supaul district remains shallow during pre- as well as post-monsoon periods, going maximum up to 5.0 m bgl at few patches. Water level for the year 2011 indicates a maximum of 3.85 m bgl during the pre-monsoon measurement. Few patches even possess depth to water levels within 2.0 m bgl, creating water-logging conditions. The water level in the district possesses a relation with the bed level elevation and flow in the Kosi River at the western parts of the district. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 38

40 Pre- and post-monsoon depth to water level maps of Supaul district. Mining:- The mineral resources of Supaul district playing massive role in industrial, social and economic development of the district. Available mineral resources in the district Sand Clay Especially Sand mining activities are playing a significant role industrial, social and economic development of the district. The sand mining carried out throughout the district mainly in stretch of Koshi River. (a) Details of river or stream and other sand source of the district:- Sand is one of the major minor mineral of Supaul district of Bihar. Koshi and Tilawe River is major sand source in the district. (b) Availability of Sand or gravel or aggregate resources:- Koshi and Tilawe River is major sand source and in the district. The rivers of the district bring out the sediment as bed load and suspended load during the monsoon period and post monsoon when the carrying capacity of river decreases it deposit the sediment as braided deposit, point bars, etc. these are the main source of sand in the district. (c) Existing Mining Lease of sand and aggregates:- Refer to Chater-3 Drainage system with description of main rivers:- The rivers of the district bring out the sediment as bed load and suspended load during the monsoon period and post monsoon when the carrying capacity of river decreases it deposit the sediment as braided deposit, point bars, etc. these are the main source of sand in the district. Drainage system with description of main rivers:- DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 39

41 Sl. No. Name of the River Area drained (Sq. % Area drained in the Km) District 1. Koshi Tilawe Parwana Tilyuga Vanmadhar Chilauni Mirchiyadhar Sursar TOTAL Salient Features of Important Rivers and Streams:- Sl. No. Name of the River Total Length in the District (in Km) Place of origin Altitude at Origin (in m.) 1. Koshi 71 Bhimnagar Tilawe 67 Narpat patti Parwana 15 Pipra Tilyuga 84 Hanriahi Vanmadhar 21 Motipur Chilauni 52 Raghunathpur Mirchiyadhar 45 Bishnupur Ghulami Sursar 45 Thuthi 69 Methodology Adopted for Calculating of Mineral Potential:- The mineral potential is calculated based on field investigation and geology of the catchment area of the river/ streams. As per the policy of the State and location, depth of minable mineral is defined. The area for removal of mineral in a river or stream can be decided depending on geomorphology and other factors, it can be 50% to 60% of the area of a particular river/stream, e.g. in river mineral constituents like sand up to a depth of three meters considered as resource mineral. Other constituents like clay and silt are excluded as waste while calculating the mineral potential of particular river/ stream. The specific gravity of each mineral constituent is different. While calculating the mineral potential, the average specific gravity is taken as The percent of mineral constituent like DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 40

42 sand also varies for different river and streams. While calculating the mineral potential the percentage of each mineral constituent is taken as Sand 25-30% and 5-10% for silt and clay. The quantum of deposition varies from stream to stream depending upon factors like catchment lithology, discharge, river profile and geomorphology of the river course. There are certain geomorphological features developed in the river beds such as channel bar, point bar etc. where annual deposition is more even two to three meters. The details are given below: River of Stream Portion of the river or stream recommend ed for mineral concession ( in Sq. Km) Length of area recommended for mineral concession (in Kilometer) Average width of area recommende d for mineral concession in meter) Area recommended for mineral concession (In lakh Square Meter) Mineable Mineral Potential (In Lakh Metric Tonne) 60% of total Mineral Koshi Tilawe Parwana Tilyuga Vanmadhar Chilauni Mirchiyadhar Sursar Total Mineral Potential is calculated in Following Way:- Mineral Potential:- Sand (MT) Total Mineable Mineral Potential(MT) Lakh MT Lakh MT Annual Deposition (30%) Lakh MT Lakh MT Conclusion:- The process of Sand / Soil reclamations is highly dependent upon the rainfall received in the catchment areas of rivers and their tributaries and the velocity of river. It is a dynamic process. DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 41

43 Thus it is difficult to predict, what quantity of Sand / Soil may be reclaimed/redeposit by river. Because, in case of less rain, less water in the river, there may be less erosion and transportation may also be minimal and as a result deposition too will be less. Moreover, in case of floods, the sudden gush of water may force the change in the river course, thus old sites of sand deposition may not be relevant. The data narrated in the report, regarding annual deposition of sand and associated aggregates and mineable mineral potential is concerned, is only estimation based on the data provided by the district mining office. Thus, the figures may vary from area to area and year on year basis. Therefore, this document is not static one but has to be a dynamic one, the figures of which may vary with respect to time. These mineral concessions shall also reduce demand load and will be helpful to minimize illegal extraction of minerals, failure of which may result in to illegal mining at odd hours and shall be haphazard and more detrimental to the local ecology. Irrespective of it following geo-scientific considerations are also suggested to be taken into account during the river bed mining in a particular area: Abandoned stream channels or terrace and inactive floodplains may be preferred rather than active channels and their deltas and floodplains. Stream should not be diverted to form inactive channel. Mining below subterranean water level should be avoided as a safeguard against environmental contamination and over exploitation of resources. Large rivers and streams whose periodic sediment replenishment capacities are larger, may be preferred than smaller rivers. Segments of braided river system should be used preferably falling within the lateral migration area of the river regime that enhances the feasibility of sediment replenishment. Mining at the concave side of the river channel should be avoided to prevent bank erosion. Similarly meandering segment of a river should be selected for mining in such a way as to avoid natural eroding banks and to promote mining on naturally building (aggrading) meander components. Continued riverbed material mining in a given segment of the river will induce seasonal scouring and intensify the erosion activity within the channel. This will have an adverse DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 42

44 effect not only within the mining area but also both in upstream and downstream of the river course. Hazardous effects of such scouring and enhanced erosion due to riverbed mining should be evaluated periodically and avoided for sustainable mining activities. Mining area should be demarcated on the ground with Pucca pillars so as to avoid illegal unscientific mining. It is recommended that Sub Divisional Level Committee may take into consideration all its relevant aspects / data while scrutinizing and recommending the application for EC to the concerned Authority DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 43

45 CHAPTER 12 BRICK KILNS IN SUPAUL DISTRICT The state of Bihar is developing rapidly. In the five year period from 2004 to 2009 Bihar s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by 11.03% and between 2001 and 2011 there has been a significant increase in urbanization with the number of towns increasing from 120 to 213 according to the latest census. This has been possible through investment in various sectors, especially the construction sector. If this growth rate needs to be sustained, the demand for quality building materials will increase manifold. In rural areas too, Bihar faces challenges with the need for over 7.5 billion bricks over the next five years to meet the rural housing gap. A field study was conducted in 5 districts on Bihar to understand the present scenario of the brick industry and to assess the market potential and barriers for introducing energy efficient technologies for walling materials. The major brick producing districts of Bihar is Patna, Nalanda, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, East and West Champaran, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Madhubani. With over 5,700 authorized brick kilns the state produces around 17 billion bricks per year. The brick sector in Bihar is growing at a rate of 9%, however it continues to be dominated by traditional technology - the Fixed Chimney Bulls Trench Kiln (FCBTK). Unlike the rest of India (except Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) the state of Bihar is the only state which has transformed the brick firing technology from movable to fixed chimney. Status of Brick Kilns in Supaul District DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SUPAUL -BIHAR Page 44