PHYSICAL SETTING. Karimnagar is identified with three categories of elevations. Low level

Transcription

1 PHYSICAL SETTING 3.1. RELIEF Karimnagar is identified with three categories of elevations. Low level elevation i.e meters is found in the eastern part of the district. This category is found in Kataram, Mahadevpur, Mutharam, Thadicherla mandals. Medium elevation i.e meters is found in central part of the district which covers the mandals such as Karimnagar, Manakondur, Thimmapur, Mallial, Pegadapally, Gollapally, Jagithial, Sultanabad, Choppadandi, Huzurabad, Saidapur, Veenavanka, Ramadugu etc. High elevation i.e meters is spread in south-western part of the district. This covers Kodimial, Medipally, Metpalli, Vemulawada, Siricilla, Mustabad, Gambhiraopet, Yellareddipet, Koheda, Bejjanki and Husnabad. A range of hills commencing at Gurrapalle (Gurapalli in Metpally mandal) runs in a north easterly direction as far as Jagtial and then proceeds to Vemalkurthi (Metpally mandal) near the Godavari. Another range popularly called the Shanigaram (Shanigaram in Karimnagar mandal) range proceeds from Shanigaram and Mallangur (Karimnagar mandal) parallel to the first range at a distance of about 51 kilometres. A third range in the south west corner of the district starts from the Manner (Maner) river valley, runs in a north easterly direction and passes beyond Ramgir intersecting the Shanigaram range. This range terminates near the Godavari. 42

2 3.2. GEOLOGY OF KARIMNAGAR DISTRICT Karimnagar district can be divided geographically into two parts, the western part consisting of the Peninsular granite complex with minor bands of Dharwarian rocks and the eastern portion comprising the Purana- sedimentaries (Pakhals and Sullavais) occurring as strips running in a general north west, south east direction and also the Gondwanas with coal bearing formations. A broad succession of the geological formation is the oldest at the bottom and youngest at the top is given below table: Table no: 3.1. Geological succession Sub-recent to recent Gondwanas Puranas Archeans Alluvium Chikialas, Kotas, Maleris, Kamthis, Barkers, Talchirs Sullavais, Pakhals Peninsular granite complex, Dharwar The detailed description of the rock types is as follows:- Dharwar : They comprise both the sedimentary and the igneous members as given below which occur in shredded paths and lenticular masses or xenoliths of all sizes dotting the granite complex. The Epidiorites form low hillocks and occur as sheets and dykes invariably covered by residual soils. The highly resistant members such as the banded haematite 43

3 quartzite stand out boldly forming conical or linear hills. The trend of the Dharwar rocks in general varies from north-west-south-east to north-north-west-south-southeast. These rocks are exposed in a narrow belt of 10 to 32 kilometres wide in parts of Karimnagar, Peddapalle (Sultanabad) and Jagtial talukas. The Epidiorites: The Epidiorites, which are metamorphosed basic igneous rocks, occur as sills and dykes in the meta-sedimentary. They are generally massive and at places they gave rise to deposits of steatite on alteration. The Metasedimentary group: The banded haematite quartzite are the most conspicuous among this group of rocks. They consist of intricately folded alternate layers of haematite and quartz. Each layer varies from a tenth to an inch in thickness. The haematite layers at certain places form thick massive ore which had been worked in the past for iron. Occurring in association with the banded haematite quartzites are bands of green quartzites, felspathic quartzites, crystalline lime stones, phyllites, talc-chlorite schists, talcose, argillaceous grits and conglomerates. The crystalline lime stones are grey in colour and medium to coarse grained. They contain calcite, siderite and magnetite shreds and veinlets of basic intrusive. Where the basic intrusive are considerable, the rock has changed to a calc-schist. They occur mostly near Govindapalle and Namapur in Jagtial taluk. Peninsular Granite Complex : Major portion of the district is composed of the peninsular granite complex, comprising the pink and the grey granites, the colour of which depended upon the 44

4 colour of the feldspars contained in them. However, this distinction is not sharp as the one invariably and imperceptibly passes into the other. It is considered that the grey granites are older than the pink. Each group is characterised by its own set of pegmatite, applets and quartz veins which intruded into the granites. Granites are exposed in the form of sheets and domelike or boulder masses lying scattered in the flat or undulating country. They are medium to coarse-grained or even porphyritic and are composed of quartz, grey or pink feldspars, muscovite and varying amounts of Ferro magnesium minerals such as biotitic and hornblende. Sphene, Zircon, magnetite, allanite and apatite are the common accessory minerals. With the increase in ferromagnesian minerals the rock becomes darker. The granites appear banded or streaky when the dark minerals are segregated into bands or streaks before the granites were subjected to great pressure and other metamorphic agencies; they were changed to gneissic granites. Biotitic granites cover wide areas and contain garnet at places. They form typical dome shaped hills. Hornblende granites are commonly associated with the Epidiorites. Narrow veins of epidotic traverse the granites. At places, these veins contain babingtonite, fluorite and calcite in addition to epidotic. Some of the massive outcrops of dark coloured rocks in the district probably represent the charnockites showing variation in the composition from acid to basic and invariably containing hypersthenes with or without augite. The granites are dissected by numerous dolerite dykes ranging in thickness from a few meters to over hundred meters. Some of them are traceable for several kilometres. These dolerite dykes are not uniformly distributed but cluster in parts of Peddapally, Jagtial, Sirsilla and Karimnagar talukas. Many of them have a general 45

5 east north-east trend, while a few small ones have a north south or north west south east trend. Due to their greater resistance to weathering the dolerites protrude out as prominent linear ridges in the otherwise flat granite country. They are dark in colour, fine to medium grained and consist of plagioclase, augite and iron ore. Puranas: These are unfossil-ferrous rocks of sedimentary origin. They occur in a narrow strip, running roughly north west south east in the east central parts of the district and occupying portions of Peddapally and Manthani talukas. A narrow band crossing the Kazipet Balaharshah railway line near Ramagundam continues in discontinuous outcrops up to the confluence of the Kadam with the Godavari. In the north these rocks pass into Adilabad district and in the south into Warangal. The Purana rocks in the district comprise the Sullavais and Pakhals. As seen in Chelvai in Mulug taluk of Warangal district, the Sullavais rest on the Pakhals with a slight unconformity. In Karimnagar district, however, the Sullavais show a conformable relationship with the Pakhals. In the area to the north east of Ramagundam the Sullavais rest directly on the granites. The Pakhals in this district are composed mainly of the dolomites, glauconitic sandstones, lime stones and shales, and are confined to the Ramagundam area. The Sullavais consist of ferruginous, medium to coarse grained sandstones, grits, pebble beds, shale and lime stones. In places the Sullivan sandstones are quartzite and white. Due to differential erosion the sandstones form castellated hill ranges. The Gondwanas: These are fresh water sedimentary rocks deposited in stream beds or in lakes and contain workable coal seams in them. They occupy a broad belt running north 46

6 west to south-east along the eastern parts of the district covering Manthani and parts of Peddapally talukas. The Gondwana rocks consist of Talchirs, Barakars, Kamthis, Maleris, Kotas, and Chikialas. The Talchirs are the oldest beds of the Gondwanas and composed of boulder beds consisting of unsorted boulders and fragments of older rocks embedded in a clayey matrix. The shales and sandstones overlying them in Warangal district are not exposed in this district. These boulder beds are supposed to have been deposited by glacial agency. The Talchirs are overlaid by massive, thick bedded and coarse felspathic sandstones of Barker age. They are usually white in colour and contain white kaolinised feldspar. All the coal seams found in this district occur in the Barker sandstones. The Kamthis are dirty brown, soft and medium to coarse-grained sandstones inter-bedded with grits, conglomerates and ferruginous shale s. They are conspicuous parts of Manthani taluk. In Manthani taluk, Maleri beds consisting of red clays and calcareous sandstones overlie the Kamthis and are in turn overlain by the Kota beds of lights to brown sandstones and grits intercalated with lime stones and red clays. The Chikiala beds are the top most of the Gondwana rocks and comprise conglomerates and ferruginous sandstones of buff or brown colour. 47

7 3.3. GEOMORPHOLOGY Geomorphology is defined as the science of landforms with an emphasis on their origin, evolution, form, and distribution across the physical landscape. Information on landforms is important inputs for land management, soil mapping and identification of potential zones for groundwater resources, the aspect of morphography, morphogenesis, morpho chronology and morphometry are vital inputs for preparation geomorphology. Geomorphologically Karimnagar district consisting various originated land forms, those fluvial landforms formed by the water, denudational land forms formed by the weathering process and structural landforms formed by the tectonics movements. Table no. 3.2: Geomorphological Landforms Geomorphological Landforms Geomorphology Area (sq.km) % Tank 89 1 Denudational Hills Dyke Ridge 16 1 Linear Ridge 18 1 Pediment Pediplain River Residual Hill 51 1 Structural Hill Total Denudational Hills : Denudational hills are the massive hills with resistant rock bodies that are formed due to differential erosion and weathering processes, these hills are composed fractured or jointed having no soil cover, moderate to steep slope. On the satellite image, these landforms were identified by Light or dark brownish with mix 48

8 green colour due to thick forest cover. Denudational hills occupying Eastern and Western, Southern and Northern portions of the Karimnagar district Structural hills : Structural hills are representing with definite trend line and the geologic structures such as- bedding, joint, lineaments etc. these hills occupied by large area. They are located in the eastern parts of the study area having greenish and reddish tone with Rough texture on the satellite image. Residual hill : Residual hills are the end products of the weathering process of pediplanation, which reduces the original mountain masses into a series of scattered knolls standing on the pediplains. Residual hills occur as small hills comprise of more resistant formations formed due to differential erosion, are found in the Western, Northern and south portions of the study area. In the imageries, these features occur as dark Greenish brown patches with forest cover. Pediment : In the study area, pediments are gently sloping areas or erosional surface of bed rock. Pediments may or may not be covered by a thin layer of soil and are mostly developed at the foot of the hills occurring along the eastern, southern, western, Northern and central part of the study area. These Landforms are showing light greenish colour and fine texture on the satellite imaginary. 49

9 Pediplain : Pediplains are formed due to intensive weathering under semi-arid climatic conditions, representing final stage of the cyclic erosion. These are identified in the imageries due to grey tone on false colour composite. Pediplain have developed in the most of portions of study area. Alluvial plain : An alluvial plain is a relatively flat landform and created by the deposition of highlands eroded due to weathering and water flow in study area. The sediment from the hills is transported to the lower plain over a long period of time. It identified on the imageries dark reddish moderate to fine texture due to agriculture activities. Alluvial deposits of the area constitute gravel, sand, silt or clay sized unconsolidated material CLIMATE Climate is defined as the general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including temperature, rainfall, and wind. On earth, climate is most affected by latitude, the tilt of the earth's axis, the movements of the earth's wind belts, the difference in temperatures of land and sea and topography. Temperature: Karimnagar district, like many other Telangana districts, experiences hot and dry climate throughout the year. During the south west monsoon season, it experiences change. The district experiences cold season extending from December to February and which is followed by summer, when both day and night temperatures increasing sharply. May, being the hottest month the mean daily maximum temperature is 40 C 42 C and the mean daily minimum is about 28 C. 50

10 Sometimes, the day temperatures cross 45 C. Day and night temperatures decrease speedily during the months of November and December. December is the coldest month with the mean maximum and minimum temperatures of 29.9 C and 16.3 C respectively. Sometimes, during the winter, the night temperatures will fall to very low levels, i.e.10 0 C. The highest maximum temperature recorded at Ramagundam was 47.2 C on the 19th may 1948 and the 8 th of June The lowest minimum temperature was 8.5 o C on the 26 th of December Table no: 3.4.a. Maximum and minimum temperature Karimnagar district- Month wise Maximum and Minimum Temperature -(in Celsius degrees) s. no Month period period Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum 1 January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Average Source: Agricultural Research Centre, Karimnagar. 51

11 Rainfall: The normal rainfall during the south west monsoon from June to September is 966m.m. The normal rainfall during North East monsoon is 113 mm. July is the rainiest month of the year in the district. The variation in the annual rainfall in the district from year to year is not so large. The district receives comparatively less rainfall during winter and hot weather seasons. The normal rainfall during winter period is 17.5 during the period Humidity, winds and cloudiness: The relative humidity is generally high during the south-west monsoon season. The relative humidity decreases after withdrawal of the south-west monsoon. The summer season is the driest part of the year with the humidity in the afternoon being below 25 percent. Winds are generally light to moderate with some increase in force during the south-west monsoon season. In the post monsoon season winds are generally northerly or north easterly. In December southerlies and south easterlies begin to below and these predominate in the next five months. Winds blow from directions between south west and north west in the first half of the south- west monsoon season becoming mainly wetly to north-westerly in the second half or the season. Skies are heavily clouded to overcast during the south west monsoon season. There is rapid decrease in cloudiness in the post-monsoon. In the rest of the year the skies are generally clear or lightly clouded. 52

12 Table no: 3.4. b. Annual rainfall station-wise Annual rainfall station-wise Sl.no MANDAL Normal rainfall period period 1 Karimnagar Manakondur Thimmapur Bejjanki Gangadhara Ramadugu Choppadandi Husnabad Chigurumamidi Koheda Huzurabad Jammikunta Veenavanka Kamalapur Elkathurthy Kesavapatnam Saidapur Bhimdevarpally Jagtial Raikal Dharmapuri Sarangapur Mallial Kodimial Pegadapally Gollapally Metpally Korutla Maidipally Ibrahimpatnam Mallapur Kathlapur

13 33 Siricilla Ellanthakunta Gambiraopet Mustabad Yellareddipet Vemulawada Boinpally Konaraopet Chendurthy Srirampur Odela Ramagundam Sultanabad Peddapally Velgatoor Dharmaram Julapally Manthani Kamanpur Mutharam (mnt) Malharrao Mahadevpur Kataram Maha mutharam Eligedu Source : Chief Planning Office, Karimnagar Special whether phenomena: Storms and depressions originating in the Bay of Bengal during the postmonsoon affect the weather over the district causing widespread heavy rain and strong winds. Thunderstorms occur throughout the year generally, their highest incidence being during the period from May to September. Dust raising winds are common in the summer afternoons. 54

14 3.5. RIVERS AND CANALS The Godavari and the Manner are the two major rivers in the district. The Godavari, which is the largest river of Peninsular India, rises in the Western Ghats at Triambak near Nasik in Maharashtra State and enters Andhra Pradesh near Basara in Adilabad district. This mighty river enters Karimnagar district near Kandukurthi in Metpally independent sub taluk and skirts the northern and eastern boundaries of the district and separates Chandha in Maharashtra State and Bastar area in Madhya Pradesh from Karimnagar district. It is not, however, useful for irrigational purposes in Karimnagar district. The Manner, a tributary of the Godavari, originates near the village of Kalkur and traverses the district from west to east as far as Karlagunta (Manthani taluk). It then flows north and falls into the Godavari near Mahadevpur in Manthani taluk. Its length in the district is about 232 kilometres and the river is an important irrigation source. Peddavagu and Chinnavagu are the other minor rivers that flow in this district and join the Godavari. SRSP Kakatiya right canal is providing irrigation source in the district SOILS Soil is a major component of land system which procures a medium for plant growth. The potentials and limitations of a soil for sustained use under agriculture, horticulture, silvipasture and forestry as well as its response to irrigation and other management practices are controlled by its inherent qualities and characteristics. The quality of a soil is a function of its morphologic, morphometric, physical, and chemical characteristics. These characteristics are expressed in a taxonomic class as depicted on soil map with location reference.the soil map thus, helps to know the 55

15 characteristics of the soils of the area and to understand their problems, potentialities and management needs for their optimal use within the scale of limitations. Soils of the district are predominantly sandy loam and red chelkas interspersed with Block cotton Soils. The soils of the district in general are shallow with low fertility status except part of Manthani, Jagithial, Metpally and Peddapally area and soils among the banks of Godavari River and its attributes Manair. The soils exhibit a significant responsiveness to better management practices and balanced use of manures and fertilizers. Table no: 3.6. Soil taxonomy SOIL TAXONOMY AREA (sq.km) % of area Aquic Haplustepts Chromic Haplusterts Entic Haplusterts Lithic Haplustepts Rhodic Paleustalfs Rock outcrops Typic Haplustalfs Typic Paleustalfs Typic Rhodustalfs Typic Ustorthents Ustic Haplocalcids 63 1 Vertic Haplustepts Total The soil map shows the spatial distribution of these soils in the study area. 56

16 SOIL DESCRIPTION Aquic Haplustepts : These soils were distributed 987 sq.km which is 8% of the total district area, these soils are occurred moderately deep to deep in depth, well drainage, clayey soil with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with moderate sloping and slightly eroded. These type of soils were distributed in Karimnagar districts, mandal wise details i.e. Bejjanki, Bheemadevarapally, Boinpally, Chendurthy, Chigurumamidi, Elkathurthy, Gangadhara, Husnabad, Huzurabad, Kamalapur, Karimnagar, Kodimial, Koheda, Konaraopet, Malharrao, Mallial, Manakondur, Manthani, Mutharam Manthani, Ramadugu, Saidapur, Thimmapur, Vemulawada Chromic Haplusterts : Chromic Haplusterts soils were spatially distributed 2134 sq.km which is 18% in the Karimnagar district area, characteristically the soil occurred moderately deep to deep in depth, well drainage, and clayey soil with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with very gentle sloping and moderately eroded, this type of soils occurred in the study area, mandal wise details i.e. Bejjanki, Bheemadevarapally, Chendurthy, Choppadandi, Dharmapuri, Dharmaram, Elkathurthy, Ellanthakunta, Gambiraopet, Gangadhara, Gollapally, Huzurabad, Jagtial, Jammikunta, Julapally, Kamalapur, Kamanpur, Karimnagar, Kataram, Kathlapur, Kodimial, Konaraopet, Malharrao, Mallial, Manakondur, Manthani, Maidipally, Mustabad, Mutharam Manthani, Odela, Peddapally, Pegadapally, Ramadugu, Ramagundam, Ramagundam Municipality, Saidapur, Sarangapur, 57

17 Siricilla (M), Sirsilla, Srirampur, Sultanabad, Veenavanka, Velgatur, Vemulawada, Yellareddipet and Velgatur. Lithic Ustorthents : Lithic Ustorthents soils were spatially distributed 1153 sq.km, which is 10% in the Karimnagar district area, characteristically the soils are occurred shallow to moderately depth, excessive drainage loamy soils with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with very gentle sloping to moderate sloping and moderately eroded. This type of soils occurred in the study area, mandal wise details. Chendurthy, Dharmapuri, Gambiraopet, Kamalapur, Kamanpur, Konaraopet, Mahadevpur, Malharrao, Manthani, Mutharam Mahadevpur, Mutharam Manthani, Peddapally, Raikal, Ramagundam, Ramagundam Municipality, Sarangapur, Srirampur, Velgatur and Yellareddipet. Rhodic Paleustalfs : Rhodic Paleustalfs soils were occurred deeply depth, moderate to well drainage, clayey skeletal soil with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with gentle sloping and moderately eroded. These soils were distributed 237 sq.km, which is 4% in the district total area of Karimnagar, mandal wise details i.e. Choppadandi, Gangadhara, Kataram, Kodimial, Mahadevpur, Mallial, Manthani, Pegadapally and Ramadugu. Rocky outcrops : The rock out crops are distributed 1087 sq.km which is 9% of the total district geographical area, the rock out crops occurred in the district i.e. Bejjanki, Boinpally, Chendurthy, Choppadandi, Dharmapuri, Dharmaram, Ellanthakunta, Gambiraopet, 58

18 Gangadhara, Jagtial, Julapally, Karimnagar, Koheda, Konaraopet, Manakondur, Mustabad, Odela,, Peddapalle, Raikal, Sarangapur, Siricilla (M), Sirsilla, Srirampur, Sultanabad, Veenavanka, Velgatoor, Vemulawada and Yellareddipet Typic Haplustepts : These soils were distributed 4361 sq.km which is 37% in the study area; this type soils are occurred widely in the district, characteristically occurred deeply depth, moderate to well drainage, clayey skeletal, with low availability of water storage on undulating land associated with gentle sloping and moderately eroded, widely distributed in the study area i.e. Bejjanki, Bheemadevarapally, Boinpally, Chendurthy, Chigurumamidi, Choppadandi, Dharmapuri, Dharmaram, Elkathurthy, Ellanthakunta, Gambiraopet, Gangadhara, Gollapally, Husnabad, Huzurabad, Ibrahimpatnam, Jagtial, Jammikunta, Julapally, Kamanpur, Karimnagar, Kataram, Kathlapur,, Kesavapatnam, Kodimial, Koheda, Konaraopet, Korutla, Mahadevpur, Malharrao, Mallapur, Mallial, Manakondur, Manthani, Medipally, Metpally, Mutharam Mahadevpur, Mutharam Manthani, Odela, Peddapalle, Pegadapally, Raikal, Ramadugu, Ramagundam, Saidapur, Sarangapur, Sirsilla, Srirampur, Sultanabad, Thimmapur, Veenavanka, Velgatur, Vemulawada, Yellareddipet and Raikal Typic Paleustalfs : These soils were distributed 845 sq.km which is 7% in the study area; this type soils are occurred widely in the district, characteristically occurred deeply depth, well drainage clayey skeletal soils with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with gentle sloping and moderately eroded. They are widely distributed in the study area i.e. Elkathurthi, Ibrahimpatnam, Kamalapur, Kataram, 59

19 Kathlapur, Koratla, Mahadevpur, Malharrao, Mallapur, Medipally, Metpalle, Mutharam Mahadevpur and Raikal Typic Rhodustalfs : These soils were distributed 412 sq.km which is 4% in the study area; this type soils are occurred widely in the district, characteristically occurred deeply depth, well drainage clayey skeletal soils with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with gentle sloping and moderately eroded. These soils are widely distributed in the study area i.e. Husnabad, Kamanpur, Kataram, Koheda, Malharrao, Manthani, Mutharam Mahadevpur, Mutharam Manthani, Odela, Peddapalle and Srirampur. Typic Ustorthents : These soils were distributed 394 sq.km which is 3% in the study area; this type soils are occurred widely in the district, characteristically occurred deeply depth, well drainage clayey soils with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with moderate sloping and moderately eroded. These soils are widely distributed in the study area i.e. Dharmapuri, Gollapalle, Jagtial, Koratla, Mallapur, Medipally, Metpalle, Pegadapalle, Raikal, Velgatur and Raikal. Ustic Haplocalcids : These soils were distributed 63 sq.km which is 31% in the study area; this type soils are occurred widely in the district, characteristically occurred Shallow depth, well drainage clayey soils with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with moderate sloping and moderately eroded. These soils are widely distributed in the study area i.e. Gambiraopet, Konaraopet and Yellareddipet. 60

20 Vertic Haplustepts These soils were distributed 126 sq.km, which is 1% in the study area; this type soils are occurred widely in the district, characteristically occurred Shallow depth, well drainage clayey soils with low availability of water storage on undulating lands associated with moderate sloping and moderately eroded. These soils are widely distributed in the study area i.e. Kamanpur, Kataram, Mahadevpur and Ramagundam SLOPE Introduction Slope, aspect and altitude are the most important terrain characteristics. Study area terrain relief plays a vital role in the development and management of natural resources and its characteristics i.e. Origin of geomorphological land forms, runoff, soil erosion and land use change and land & water; land utilization point of view among slope categories are playing major role in the land irrigability, land capability assessment and identification of groundwater potential zones. Slope Classification : Fallowing the guidelines of All India Soil and Land Use Survey (AIS&LUS) on slope categories, the slope map showing following slope categories has been prepared on 1:2,50,000 scale. 61

21 Table no: 3.7.a. Slope Category S. No SLOPE CATEGORY SLOPE (%) 1 Nearly level Very Gently slope Gently slope Moderately slope Strongly slope Moderately steep-to-steep slope Very steep slope >35 Table no: 3.7.b. Slope Classes in Karimnagar District SLOPE CATEGORY SLOPE % SLOPE CATEGORY AREA (Sq.km) PERCENTAGE OF THE AREA Very gently slope Gently slope Moderately slope Steep slope The study area has been categorized into four slope classes, which are 2, 3, 4 and 6. Slope 2 is the most predominantly occurring in the study area followed by slope classes 3, 4 and 6. Slope classes 2, 3 which correspond to nearly level and very gently sloping are generally associated with Pediplains, Valleys and Pediments. Also these are mainly associated with agricultural lands and wastelands like land with/ without scrub, and with agricultural plant etc. which areas are observed in the study. 62

22 Moderate steep slope areas are noticed in 12 mandals i.e. Sarangapur, Dharmapuri, Dharmaram, Veenavanka, Sultanabad, Bejjanki, Koheda, Siricilla, Mustabad, Gambhiraopet, Vemulawada and Yellareddipet. Moderately sloping areas are mostly spread in southern part, north-western part, northern-part and eastern part. This type category is noticed in Sarangapur, Raikal, Mallapur, Ibrahimpatnam, Korutla, Pegadapally, Choppadandi, Saidapur, Chigurumamidi, Bheemadevarapally, Kataram and Muttaram mandals. Gently sloping areas are noticed in Mahadevpur, Jagtial, Ramadugu, Mallial, Ellanthakunta, etc. Very gently sloping areas are found in mainly in central part of the district covering the mandals Gangadhara, Boinpally, Chendurthy, Manakondur, etc. 63