CHAPTER I
GENERAL
(a)
Introductory
(i) Origin of the Name of the
District.- Mansa, one of the
seventeen districts of Punjab State, came into existence on 13 April 19921.
It is named after the headquarters town of
According to another legend a Sadhu
(Saint) used to live in a ' Jhuggi'
on a theh (mound) near village
Khiala. The people of Mann sub-caste, while passing through this place, used to
stay for a night there. The Sadhu
asked them to stay there permanently, with the people of Mann sub-caste started
residing there and the place was used to call Mansa Kalan.
(ii) Location, General Boundaries,
Total Area and Population of the District.- Mansa is one of the three districts of the Faridkot Division.2 It is one of the southern
districts of the Punjab State and lies between north latitude 29o -33'
to 30o-13' and between east longitude 75o-10' to 75o-47'.
It is bounded by the Sangrur and Bathinda districts in the north, east and west
and
Mansa is the headquarters of the
district administration. Mansa was connected with railway track. It lies on the
Bathinda-Delhi railway line. It is connected by road with
According to the Director of Land
Records,
Tahsil Area in sq.km.
Mansa 841.86
Budhlada 691.18
Sardulgarh 605.95
Total 2,138.99
1 Vide Punjab Government Notification
No.2/2/92-RE-II(I)/4247 dated 8 April 1992
2 Vide
1
According to the 1991 Census*, the population of the district was 5,80,397 persons (4,95,054 rural 85,343 urban) comprising 3,09,962 males and 2,70,435 females.
(iii) History of the District as an
Administrative Unit and the Changes in its Component Parts.- The district of Mansa with headquarters at Mansa was
created on
(iv)
Subdivisions, Tahsils and Thanas.- The
Mansa District comprised of 244 villages (241 inhabited and 3 uninhabited)
spread over three tahsils viz. Mansa,
Budhlada and Sardulgarh. There were 5 towns viz. Mansa, Budhlada, Bareta, Bhikhi
and Sardulgarh in the district. The tahsil-wise list of
police stations and
police posts in the district is
given in Chapter XII 'Law and Order and
Justice.
(b)
Topography**
The
Mansa District forms part of Satluj-Ganga plain and is characterized by low
lying flat area. The elevation of the land surface ranges from 208 meters in
the southwest to 233 meters in the northeast. Thus the slope of the ground is
from northeast to southwest. The range of elevation in the district is about 15
meters. Hence gentle slope is characteristic feature of the area. The
3 Vide
4 Vide
* As per 2001 Census (Provisional) the
population of the district has been increased to 6,88,630 persons (3,67,197 males
and 3,21,433 females)
**
Material supplied by S. Avtar Singh Matharoo, Lecturer, Department of
Geography,
Geomorphic
Features
The monotony of the plain surface is broken by presence of sand ridges
which are residuals of sand dunes in different parts of the district. These sand dune features were quite apparent few decades ago but due to development of agriculture many of these were levelled down but the residuals of these dunes break the monotony of the landscape. The sand dune is a ridge of sand which can assume various forms. Here, in this district linear sand ridges can be observed here and there.
According to concentration of sand dunes two types of areas may be demarcated i.e.
(i)
Areas with concentration of sand ridges; and
(ii)
Areas without
sand ridges
(i) Area with
Concentration of Sand Dunes.- Sand dunes are more conspicuous in three
parts of the district. The first concentration of these sand dunes is quite
apparent in northwestern part of the district. Many of these sand dunes form
linear chains, some of the ridges have a length of about 1km, and most of these
ridges are about few hundreds meters long. The second concentration is between
Uddat branch and Boha distributory of Sirhind canal. Unlike the sand dunes of
above mentioned concentration, these run in different directions, indicating
shifting wind direction. Most of these sand ridges are small in size. The third
cluster of sand dunes is discernible in villages north of
(ii) Areas without Sand Dunes.- In the intervening tracts between above mentioned
three micro regions, either there is complete absence of sand dunes or there
are scattered sand ridges here and there.
Apart from the presence of sand
dunes, which break monotony of landscape, the
(c)
River System and Water Resources*
The district lacks any perennial
river system but only one seasonal stream Ghaggar flows through the district. This
river cross through the southern part of the district. The river enters the
district near Hirke village in the east and leaves the district near Rurki
village in the south. River rises in Shivalik Hills and after flowing through
the part of Haryana and then
*
Material supplied by S. Avtar Singh Matharoo, Lecturer, Department of
Geography,
one legend the course of lost
Saraswati is actually old course of this river. Satluj & Yamuna were
tributaries to this great river system. Due to climatic changes and tectonic
activities, the
Water Resources.- The water resources
of district include canals, wells & tubewells. Firstly the canals serve
large parts of the district. The
(d) Geology *
Geology and Mineral Resources of Mansa District
(i)
Geological Formation
The area forms a part of the Indo-Gangetic Alluvial
plains consisting of quaternary sediments. These sediments can be broadly
classified into three subdivisions viz. older alluvium formed by the
depositional processes of older stream, newer alluvium formed by the present
day streams and aeolian deposits in the
form of sand dunes and sheets representing the depositional feature of the wind
action. The older alluvium and the aeolian deposits are extensive whereas the
newer alluvium has limited distribution. Although a number of remnants of sand
dunes are present throughout the area, these are more conspicuous towards the
western and southern parts of the district.
The
older alluvium comprises interbanded clay, sandy clay, silt and sand with
horizons of kankar. On the surface,
it is chiefly represented by massive, pale reddish brown, clayey silt to fine
sand with disseminated kankar. A
horizon of sticky clay usually a meter or so thick, locally called pandoo, occurs 1.5 to 3.0 metre below
the surface. Kankar bearing levels
are usually found over this pandoo
zone. The pandoo zone not only traps
water under artesian conditions but also causes water logging and consequent
formation of kankar and sodium
and magnesium salts, thereby rendering the soil infertile. At places the grains
are cemented together by infiltrating silica and lime to form impervious
layers. The older alluvium soils are rich in alkalies and lime although there
proportion is variable. The newer alluvium is lighter in
colour and more
fresh looking as compared to older alluvium and
* Material supplied by the Director,
Geological Survey of India, Punjab & H.P. Unit,
aeolian deposits. It occupies
a very small stretch along
the course of the
grey colour. Aeolian deposits are widespread in the western and southern parts of the area and thin out in the eastern side. These are common in the following areas:-
1 Piplian-Mandhali-Bareh Malsinghwala
2 Budhlada-Kulana-Rangrial-Daska
3 Boha-Sher Khanwala-Kishangarh
In Kotli Khurd and Piplian-Malsinghwala area the highest dune is 8 m high with average being 3-5 m.
(ii) Mineral Resources
Kankar.- Kankar, popularly known as rore in the area, occurs
mainly in two different forms viz. hard and compact sheet (hard pan deposit)
and nodules. The bedded form of the hard and compact sheet of kankar occurs usually over the nodular
variety and varies in thickness from 10 centimetre to about a metre. It occurs
30 centimetre to about 1.50 metre below the surface. The soil zones containing
nodular variety of kankar range in thickness from 10 centimetre to 2.00
metre. The content of kankar in the
soils range from 2 to 80%.
The
pea size kankar nodules are generally
associated with the pandoo and other
clays, small size nodules with the clayey soils, medium to big size fragments
with the sandy soils and large size nodules with the pure sand horizons. Thus,
the size of the kankar increases with
the increase in the grain size of sediments. The frequency factor of such
nodules is inversely related to the permeability of the associated soil zones.
Thus, though the sands contain normally large size nodules of kankar these are sparsely distributed in
the sand.
Alkaline Earth.- Alkaline earth occurs in patches in the area, around
Bareta, Kishangarh, Sanghreri, Juglan, Khewa Khurd, Hiron Kalan, Bhikhi,
Dhaipai and Bhalowan. Out of these, Bareta, Kishangarh, Khewa Khurd and Hiron
Kalan contain substantial deposits.
Salt Petre.- Salt petre occurrences
have been located at Sanghreri. Ghandh Khurd, Mandi Kalan, Biroke Kalan,
Kishangarh, Bhikhi, Dhalewan and Bareh.
(iii) Groundwater.-Water bearing formations in the area mainly include
fine to medium grained sand or sand and kankar
with little admixture of clay. At shallow depths the groundwater occur under
water table conditions and in deeper aquifers occur under confined conditions.
The
groundwater quality is good close to the
(e) Flora (Botany)*
The general floristic composition of Mansa District has an overlapping of floral composition belonging to 'Semi Arid Region' as a major part and scattered elements of 'Moister Plain Country'.
(i)
Semi Arid Region
This type of vegetation is found in southern part of the district
boundary. The area has undulating land surface due to sandy soil are noticed.
The forest mainly comprises Capparis decidua, Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora oleoides. Besides, this
zone has also the landscape of Dalbergia
sissoo,Acacia leucocephala and A. nilotica ssp. indica. Shrubby elements are Ziziphus nummularia, Crotolaria burhia Calatropis procera Leptadenia pyrotechnica and Tecomella
acmella are common locally.
The
open throny scrub vegetation is observed comprising of Prosopis cineraria, Capparis deciduas, Maytenus emarginatus and Acacia
nilotica, wherever the moist conditions prevails the thick layer of
herbaceous elements occur such as Tribulus,
Boerhavia, Cenchrus, Panicum, Achyranthes, Indigofera, Phyllanthus, Solanum
nigrum, Justicia, etc. Among the perennial climber and bushes are Coccinia grandis, Cocculis hirsutus, C.
Pendulus and Mimordica balsamina.
(ii)
Moister Plain Country
This type of area has tremendous influence of
biotic interference mainly clearing for cultivation. The landscape is characterized
by Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia nilotica ssp. Indica mixed with
syzygium cumini, Ficus benghalensis, F. religiosa, Melia azedarach,
Morus alba, Ipomoea carnea ssp. fistulosa, Euphorbia nivulia, etc. In waste
places along roadsides Capparis decidua, Ziziphus mauritiana, Butea
monosperma, Adhatoda zeylancia and
* Material supplied by
Botanical Survey of India, Dehradun
Ruderal
Plants.- Ruderal vegetation develops in places which are subjected to
change from time to time, such as waste place around villages, railway tract
and roadsides. The common species are Xanthium
stramonium, Cannabis sativa, Croton
bonplandianum, Cassia obtusifolia,
Argemone mexicana, Amaranthus
spinosus,etc.
Common Weeds.-The weeds commonly associated with crops are Cleome, Justicia, Achynomene, Crotolaria, Euphorbia, Leucas, Lathyrus,
Spergularia, Vicia, Desmostachya sp. etc.
Economic Plants.-The area harbours number of plants which are
being used locally and play important role in economic development. Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica ssp. indica are used in tanning industry. Inedible oil extracted from Argemone mexicana, Azadirachta, Vetiveria
zizanioides are economically exploited. Besides these, a large number of
plants are also exploited for herbal medicines, home remedies and in the
preparation of ayurvedic formulations. The common species are Aegle marmelos,Linum usitatissimum,
Azadirachta indica, Acacia catechu, Abrus precatorius, Datura stramonium,
Solanum surantense, Adhatoda zeylanicus. Butea monosperma, Calatropis procera,
Boerhovia diffusa, Asparagus racemosus, etc.
(f) Fauna (Zoology)*
Fauna is a gift of nature, and the different beasts and birds, forming
part of wild life, need to be preserved. The wild animals and birds help in
protecting crops, by preying upon worms, insects, etc. which might destroy
them. The Punjab Wild Life Preservation Act, 1959, and the rules framed there
under aim at the protection and preservation of wild life. The Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972, has been enforced in the State of
The different zoological types formed in the Mansa District are given below:
(i) Mammals (Mammalia)
Due
to unplanned deforestation and urbanization of the area the wildlife has been harmed tremendously. In the present
scenario among large mammals only
Nilgai(Boselaphus tragocamelus), subsisting on
agricultural crops, is prevailing in the area and doing harm to farmers,. The
mammals found in the district are:
Jackals; (Canis aureus);
Common Fox; Vulpes
* Material supplied by Zoological Survey of
India, Dehradun
bengalensis; Wild Cat; Felis
chaus; Grey Hare; Lepus nigricollis; two species of Mongoose common and small: herpestes edwardsi, H. auropunctatus
are sometimes encountered in the remote busy patches. Wild boars: Sus scrofa;
are also sometimes reported damaging
the crops in villages. Five-striped Palm squirrel Funambulus
pennanti, is a
common sight around gardens/orchards. Among small and
nocturnal species Grey Musk Shrew: Suncus
murinus; Rats: Rattus spp., Mouse: Mus Spp.
and Bats: Pteropus Spp. are the commonly occurring ones.
The
most common primate of the area though restricted around human habitations
particularly religious places is the Rehsus Macaque: Macaca mulata.
(ii) Birds (Aves)
A
large number of birds some of them residential are found throughout the year
while others are winter visitors. Some of the birds living in and around existing
water bodies are the Little Grebe or Dabchick: Podiceps ruficollis; Pond
Herons: Ardeola gravii; Cattle Egret: Bubulcus
ibis;
Little Egret: Egretta garzetta; Red-Wattled Lapwing: Vanellus
indicus; Pied Kingfisher: Ceryle rudis; Small Blue Kingfisher: Alcedo
atthis; White-breasted Kingfisher: Halcyon smyrnensis and species of storks and Cranes.
Birds which are known to the common
folk and living around human dwellings, gardens, orchards are the Pea Fowl: Pavo cristatus;
Parriah Kite: Milvus migrans; White-backed Vulture: Gyps begnalensis;
Rose-ringed Parakeet: Psittacula krameri; Blue-rock Pigeon: Columba livia; Ring Dove: Streptopelia decaocta; Koel: Eudynamys
scolopacea; Crow Pheasant: Centropus sinensis; Spotted Owlet: Athene
brama; House Swift: Apus affinis;
Hoopoe: Upupa epops; Rufous-backed Shrike: Lanius
schach; Black Drongo: Dicrurus-adsimilis; Pied Myna: Sturnus
contra; Common Myna: Acridotheres tristes; Bank Myna: Acridotheres
ginginianus; Tree Pie: Dendrocitta vagabunda; House Crow: Corvus
splendens; Jungle Crow: Corvus macrorhynchus; Red Vented Bulbul: Pycnonotus Cafer; Jungle
Babbler: Turdoides Striatus; Common Babbler: Turdoides Candatus; Warblers: Phylloscopus
spp.; Magpie-Robin: Copsychus saularis; Pied Bush chat: Saxicola
futiola; Wagtails: Motacilla spp.; House Sparrow: Passer
domesticus; Baya or Weaver Bird: Ploceus philippinus; Munias: Lonchura
and Estrilda spp.; Green Bea-eater: Merops
orientatis; Green Barbet: Megalaima zeylanica; etc.of all these Pea
Fowl is the endangered species and needs special protection.
(iii) Reptilia (Lizard,
Snakes, Turtles, etc.)
Lizards.- The commonly met
lizards are Catotes versicolor (Daudin), the Garden Lizard; Hemidactylus brooki Gray,
the Spotted House Gecko; H. flavivirdis
Ruppell, the Yellow-bellied House Gecko; Mabuya
macularia (Blyth), the Grass Skink
and Varanus monitor
(Linnaetus), the Monitor Lizard.
Snakes.- Both venomous and non-venomous snakes occur. Among
Venomous Snakes Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider), the Common Krait;
Naja oxiana (Eichwald), the Black Cobra and Vipera russelli (Shaw),
the Russell's Viper are the popular ones. Typhlops
porrectus Stoliczka, the Slender
Blind snake; Eryx Johni (Russell), the Red Sand Boa; Ptyas mucosus (Linnaeus), the Rat Snake or
Dhaman; Psammophis leithi Gunther, the Sand Snake and Lycodon striatus (Shaw), the Barred Wolf
Snake are the non-Venomous snakes. The gigantic Python or Ajgar, Python
molurus (Linnaeus) sometimes seen with charmers.
Turtles.- Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre), the Flap-shell
Turtle and Kachuga tecta (Gray), the Roofed Turtle are
sometimes seen.
Amphibia (Frogs and Toads).- The Common frogs and toads are Bufo melanostictus
Schneider, the Common Toad, Rana Cyanophlyctis Schneider, the Skipping
Frog and R. tigerina Daudin, the Bull
Frog.
Pisces (Fishes).- The fish
funa of the area comprise both commercially important and minor fishes belonging
to carps, catfishes and perches. The important food fishes are the carps-Catla catla (Hamlton-Buchanan), the Theil;
Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Murakh; C. reba
(Hamilton-Buchanan), the Bhangan; Labeo bata (Hamilton-Buchanan),
the Bata; L. calbasu (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Kalabans; L. rohita
(Hamilton-Buchanan), the Rohu; Puntius sarana (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Chiddu; the catfishes-Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus), the Magur;
Heteropneustes fossils (Bloch), the Singhi;
Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch), the Cheengai;
O. pabda (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Pabda or Pallu; Aorichthys seenghala (Sykes), the Singhara or Singoa; Mystus cavasius (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Cheengar and Wallago attu (Schneider),
the Mullee and the perches-Ophiocephalus punctatus (Bloch), the Dolla
and Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede), the Baam.
The smaller fishes are Puntius sophore,
(Hamilton-Buchanan), P. chola
(Hamilton-Buchanan) and Osteobrma cotio (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Chiddus; Chela cachius
(Hamilton-Buchanan), C. laubuca
(Hamilton-Buchanan) and Salmostoma bacaila (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Chilwas; Amblypharyngodon mola
(Hamilton-Buchanan), the Makhni; Esomus danricus (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Chiddulu; Botia birdi Chaudhuri, the Sahinga or Chipar; Lepidocaphalus guntea (Hamilton-Buchanan) and Nemacheilus botia
(Hamilton-Buchanan), the Sundalis, Mystus vittatus (Bloch), the Tingara;
Pseudeutropius atherinoides (Bloch), the Cheli;
Chanda nama (Hamilton-Buchanan) and Parambassis
baculis (Hamilton-Buchanan), the Sheesha-machhi; Glossogobius giuris
(Hamilton-Buchanan), the Gobi and Macrognathus aral (Bloch & Schneider), the Baam.
(g) Climate *
(i)
Climatic Divisions and Seasons and Their Duration
The climate of this district is characterised by a very hot summer,
short rainy season and
bracing cold season. Thus
mostly dry conditions prevail
throughout the year. The
year may be divided
into four seasons. The
cold
season from November to February is
followed by the summer season which lasts upto the end of June. The period from
July to the middle of September constitutes the southwest monsoon season. The
latter half of September and October may be termed as the post monsoon season.
(ii) Temperature and Humidity
Temperature.- Barring the two
rain-gauge stations, there is no meteorological observatory in the district.
But most of the meteorological parameters maintain a spatial coherence.
Therefore, the description is based on the neighbouring observatory, where
similar climatic conditions prevail. After the cold season, there is gradual
increase of temperature and June is the hottest month having mean daily maximum
temperature at about 41oC and the mean daily minimum temperature at
about 27oC. On individual days the maximum temperature during the
summer season may rise ever upto about
48oC. The hot scorching winds, which blow in summer add to
the discomfort. Afternoon thundershowers which occur on some days bring a
welcome relief, though only temporarily. With the onset of the monsoon by about
the end of June or the beginning of July, there is an appreciable drop in the
day temperature, but nights are more warmer than those during summer season.
Due to additional moisture of the monsoon air, the nights are often more
uncomfortable. After the withdrawal of monsoon from the district in the latter
half of September, the temperature begins to decrease. The decrease in
temperature is rapid after October and January is the coldest month with the
mean daily maximum temperature at about 21oC and mean daily minimum
temperature at about 5oC. In the cold season, the district is
affected by coldwaves in the rear of passing western disturbances, when the
minimum temperature on such occassions may drop down to about 3 to 4oC.
Humidity.- In the mornings, relative humidities are usually
more than 45 % throughout the year except during the monsoon months, when the
relative humidities are about 71%. However, afternoons are comparatively drier.
(iii)
Rainfall
The monthly average rainfall in the Mansa District, during 1993 to 1999 is given in Table I.
* Material supplied by Additional Director General of
Meteorology(Research), Pune
Rainfall records of two stations in
the district are available for sufficiently long period. The details of the
rainfall at these stations and for the district as a whole are given in Table
II. The average annual rainfall of the district is 378.2 mm. About 74% of the
annual rainfall is received during the rainy season, July being the rainiest
month. Significant amount of rainfall also occurs in the month of June, mostly
in the form of thundershowers. During the rest of the year, very little
rainfall occurs. The variation in the annual rainfall from the year to year is
very large. From the available rainfall records of the ninety years period from
1901-1990, it was noticed that the highest annual rainfall (29.7% of the
normal) was recorded in the year 1917. The lowest annual rainfall (15% of the
normal) was recorded in 1989.During the same period, the annual rainfall in the
district was less than 80% of the normal in 24 years and two consecutive years
of such low rainfall occurred 9 times.
Table III gives frequency distribution of annual rainfall in different rainfall ranges (class intervals). It can be seen from Table III that the annual rainfall in the district was between 101 to 500 mm in 49 years out of 67.
On an average there are 20 rainy days (i.e. days with rainfall of 2.5 mm or more) in a year in the district.
The
heaviest rainfall in 24 hours recorded in the district, was 232.7 mm at Mansa
on
(iv)
Atmospheric Pressure and Winds
Cloudiness.- During the monsoon season
the skies are mostly moderately to heavily clouded. In the rest of the year the
skies are generally clear or lightly clouded. Cloudy skies prevail for brief
spells of a day or two in association with passing western disturbances in the
cold season.
Winds.-Winds are generally light.
During the period May to September, winds are mostly from directions between
south and west. In the period October to April the morning winds are light and
variable, while in afternoons they are mostly from northwesterly direction.
Special Weather Phenomena.-Western
disturbances affect the district during the cold season when thunderstorms
sometimes accompanied by hail, occur. Thunderstorms and more frequently dust
storms occur during the hot season. Rain during the monsoon season is also
occasionally associated with thunder.
TABLE III
Frequency of Annual
Rainfall in the District
(Data 1901-1990)
(Mansa)
_______________________________________________________________
Range in mm No. of years Range in mm
No. of years
_______________________________________________________________
1-100 2 ` 601-700 4
101-200 10 701-800 3
201-300 12 801-900 0
301-400 18 901-1000 1
401-500 9 1001-1100 0
501-600
7 1101-1200 1
(Source: Additional Director General of
Meteorology (Research), Pune)
(Data available for 67 years only)