SPACING OF RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN NAGAUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN: A SPATIAL ANALYSIS

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1 Journal of Global Resources Volume 5 July 2017 Page ISSN: (Print), (Online) 05 SPACING OF RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN NAGAUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN: A SPATIAL ANALYSIS Varun Binda Assistant Professor (Geography) St. Wilfred s P.G. College, Jaipur (Raj.) India Abstract: The study of settlement has been one of the most significant themes of human geography. Settlement Geography describes and explains the settlements location, size and shape, form and structure. The main objective of this study is to identify the regional patterns of size and spacing of rural settlements in Nagaur district and to explain the pattern through areal co-variance of characteristic determinants or associated areal attributes, and final to evaluate the manner in, and the extent to which the spatial pattern of spacing contributes to the character of areas. The formulae for determining the spacing of rural settlements is based on the density of rural settlements referred to the rural area. The significance of spacing of rural settlements to theoretical geography through its important contribution to the character of areas, and to applied geography through the problems of socio-economic development cannot be over-emphasized. Key words: Regional patterns, Spacing, Inhabited, Areal attributes. Introduction The term settlement refers to manmade habitats on the earth surface. In other words, settlement is organized colony of human beings consisting of buildings in which they live or work or store various things and street on which their movements take place. The study of settlement has been one of the most significant themes of human geography. The term settlement geography is derived from the German siedlunge geographic (R. L. Singh 1978) which involves the study of visual imprints made by man upon cultural landscape in the process of occupation. Settlement Geography describes and explains the settlements location, size and shape, form and structure. There are many factors like physical, social, economic and cultural which affects distribution, size, spacing and morphology of different settlements. According to Mukerjee, the covariance of spacing of rural settlements depends on such fundamental factors as fertility of land, productivity of agriculture, nature of crops, distribution and availability of water, density and size of rural population, mode of living, relative strengths of tribal population and several other factors. Research on this topic have been done by many scholars special reference to Rajasthan like Bose, A.B. (1962), Mukherjee, A.B. (1963), Misra, V.C. (1967), Sen, A.K. (191967), Sharma, R.C. (1972), Mishra, R.N. & Sharma, P. K. (2003) and Sharma P.K. (2015). Objective and Scope 1. The main objective of this study is to identify the regional patterns of size and spacing of rural settlements in Nagaur district. 2. Explain the pattern through areal co-variance of characteristic determinants or associated areal attributes and final to evaluate the manner in, and the extent to which the spatial pattern of spacing contributes to the character of areas. 28

2 Location of Study Area Nagaur district is located in the heart of Rajasthan State (24 37 to North latitudes and to Eastern longitudes) has an area of 17,718 sq. km. with a population density of 157/km² (2011). The district is administratively divided into ten tehsils viz. Degana, Didwana, Jayal, Ladnun, Merta, Nawa, Nagaur, Khivnsar, Makarana and Parbatsar (Fig 1). Methodology The formula for determining the spacing of rural settlements is based on the density of rural settlements referred to the rural area. The formula used for the computation of spacing of rural settlements in a tehsil is as follows: S=A/N Where A is rural area in square Kilometers, and N is the number of inhabited villages. This formula is useful for both the rural area and the number of the inhabited villages in the computation of spacing. This is also used for calculating the spacing of settlements in Rajasthan on basis of Census data of 2011 and derived under mentioned spacing value of each district of Rajasthan. 29

3 Table 1: Spacing of Rural Settlements in Nagaur as Compared to that of other Districts of Rajasthan (2011) # Districts Area (sq. km.) Villages Spacing (km.) Rajasthan State Ajmer Alwar Banswara Baran Barmer Bharatpur Bhilwara Bikaner Bundi Chittaurgarh Churu Dausa Dhaulpur Dungarpur Ganganagar Hanumangarh Jaipur Jaisalmer Jalor Jhalawar Jhunjhunun Jodhpur Karauli Kota Nagaur Pali Pratapgarh Rajsamand Sawai Madhopur Sikar Sirohi Tonk Udaipur Source: Computed by author. Spacing of Rural Settlement It is obvious that a state as vast and varied in its spatial character as Rajasthan would display an equally striking variation in spacing of rural settlements. This is effectively revealed in the range of variation from a minimum of 2.63 km in Shri Ganganagar to a maximum of km. in Jaisalmer, and in which the maximum is more than eighteen times the value of minimum (Table 1). For Rajasthan as a whole the spacing of rural settlements comes to about 7.61 km, Compared to the Rajasthan average, Nagaur has a spacing of 30

4 11.15 km, which is almost one and a half times that of the former. The value in Rajasthan is fairly similar to those of Barmer (11.52), Pali (11.90), and Sirohi (11.55). Gross Pattern in Nagaur As a higher level of generalization based on the interpretation of district data a gross pattern of spacing of rural settlements can be easily identify. The district data of 2011 are given in Table 2. Table 2: Spacing of Rural Settlements in Nagaur District of Rajasthan (2011) # Tehsils Area (sq. km.) Villages Spacing (km.) 1 Didwana Ladnu Makrana Parbatsar Degana Jayal Merta Nagaur Nawa Kheenvsar Source: Data computed by the author The table reveals the following features of the gross pattern of spacing:- (I) Of the 10 tehsils in the district of Nagaur as many as 5 have spacing values larger than the district average of km. Of these 5, 4 are located in the western part of Aravalli, in the desert or semi-desert environment. The values of spacing range from a minimum of 7.18 km. in Nawa in the eastern part of district to a maximum of km in Kheenvsar in the western part of the district. Most of the tehsils having smaller spacing values than the state averages are located within or east of the Aravallis. (II) In all the five tehsils comprising the physiographic division of Nagaur dry area and extending west of the Aravallis the spacing of rural settlements is wider to much wider than the average for the district. The values of spacing range from a minimum of 7.18 km in Nawa to a maximum of km in Kheenvsar. The spacing in the extensive area located west of the Aravallis is the largest in the district. Detailed Spatial Pattern in Nagaur The detailed spatial pattern emerges from Fig. 2 in which the data of spacing for tehsils have been plotted using the choropleth method. Three categories or type of area were identify in the series of data of spacing. For purpose of discussion the three categories of areas, those with high and very high values (more than 15 km), moderate values (10 to 15 km) and low and very low values (less than 10 km). (i) Area of High and Very High Spacing Values In Nagaur and Kheenvsar tehsils, extending mostly on the western pediments of the Aravallis is an area of high and very high values of spacing. This area lies in the desert or semi-desert environment. In this area water scarcity is also found and ground water is very low. All settlements are located near the source of water. Due to desert condition transport 31

5 and communication facilities are not well developed. The general trend of the belts of varying spacing values is north-east south-west following the classic regional grain of the Aravallis. The region is sufficiently distinctive in the attributes of agriculture and mode of living as to be constituted into an agrarian region. (ii) Areas of Medium Values of Spacing The medium values of spacing are found in the middle part of district. Almost everywhere spacing is associated with moderate rural density. Baring a few tehsils most of these have moderate to small-sized villages. Depending upon the physical and cultural controls there are local variations in the value of spacing. This area is extended from North to south in the central part of district, Ladnun, Jayal and Merta tehsils. There are many pockets in these tehsils, which have rich aquifer. (iii) Areas of Low and very Low Values of Spacing The Eastern part of district lies in this category. Where, ground water is found near upper surface, in good quality and quantity. These tehsils are Didwana, Nawa, Makrana, Degana and Parbatsar. The other factors which are also responsible for the low spacing of the settlements in these tehsils are mining of marbles and salt production. This area is located near the State Capital of Rajasthan so the means of transports and communication facilities are highly developed. Conclusion Rural density is inversely correlated with spacing of rural settlements. This is supported by the observation that the rural density decreases and spacing of rural settlements increase from east to west in Nagaur. In the area of low rural density the threshold rural population needed to support aggregation and a maximum spatial, economy of utilization of 32

6 environmental resources has to be spread over a large area and concentrated at fewer points resulting in an increase in the spacing of rural settlements. Size spacing direct related to the geographical and atmospheric conditions of the particular area. Nagaur district is mainly part of Thar Desert and semi desert or desert type climate are found. Some others factors are also responsible for uneven spacing of Nagaur district are source of livelihood, ground water, mean of transport and other basic facilities which is useful for mankind. References 1. A.B. Bose, (1962) A short Note on the Human Profile of the Arid Zone of Rajasthan, Nat. Geo. Journal of India, Vol.8, Part 2, pp Census of India, (2011) District Census Handbook, Nagaur, Directorate of Census Operation, Rajasthan, Jaipur. 3. District Statistical Outline: (2013) District Nagaur, Directorate of Economics and Statistic, Govt. of Rajasthan, Jaipur. 4. R.N. Mishra, & Pawan Kumar Sharma, (2003) Study of Rural Growth Centers for in Marusthali Region, Journal ANNALS, Vol. XXIII, NAGI, New Delhi. 5. Mukerji, A.B. (1956) Jat Settlements and Habitations, Ind. Geog. Jour., Vol. 31, Nos. 3 & 4, pp A.K. Sen, (1966) Settlement Patterns in Rajasthan, Man in India, Vol. 3, pp R.C. Sharma, (1972) Settlements Geography of the Indian Desert, Kumar Brothers, New Delhi. 8. P.K. Sharma, (2015) Micro-Level Appraisal of Spatial Dimensions of Rural Settlements, International Journal of Research in Geography (IJRG) Volume 1, Issue 2, 2015, PP