Location:

The state of Assam being located about 79.5m above sea level, is surrounded on three sides by the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya & Tripura. Moreover, the state shares international borders with Bangladesh and Bhutan . The state is connected to the main land of the country through a 22 Km wide strip of land popularly known as “Chicken Neck”. The chicken neck runs for 56 Kms. below foothills of Bhutan and Sikkim . Situating in the heart of the north east corner of Indian subcontinent Assam is located in between 24°10¢ N to 27°58¢ N latitude and between 89°49¢E to 97°26¢ E longitude.

Assam is divided into three important physical regions. Firstly, the Brahmaputra Valley whose length and breadth are 725 Km and 80 to 100 Km respectively and is named after the river Brahmaputra . Running through a narrow passage at the Meghalaya plateau and sub-Himalayan Arunachal – Bhutan Hills, the valley finally opens into the North Bengal plains.

The second natural division of Assam is the Barak or Surma Valley which is surrounded by North Cachar, Manipur, Mizoram Hills and Plains of Tripura and Bangladesh . The valley is named after the river Barak that flows through the valley and adopting the name of Meghna, the river finally empties itself to the bed of the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh where it is known as the Padma. This valley has hills and Beels or lakes in plenty.

The two valleys are separated by the range of hills. The Karbi hills and North Cachar Hills are located in the south of the Brahmaputra valley. Karbi Hills are part of the Meghalaya plateau. These hills are dotted with plain areas. Greenary is the hallmark of these hills, slowly reaching their full height towards the middle of the North Cachar district and Merges with the Barail range which is the highest in Assam . The elevation of the Barail range varies from 1000 to 1200 metres above sea level. These hills are full of wildlife and dense forest including green gold bamboo, medicinal & aromatic plants and home to many horticultural produce.

Climate:

The climatic condition of Assam differs from the rest of the country. It is humid, tropical type in the plains and sub-alpine in the hills with heavy rainfall and green vegetation all the year round. The average temperature in summer and winter are 29°C and 16°C respectively. The winter season extends from the month of October to February and rains dominate the rest of the year. Fair weather coupled with fall in temperature follow the withdrawal of monsoon.

Rainfall:

Rainfall in Assam is one of the highest in the world. It varies between 178cm and 305 cm and concentrated mainly in four months June to September

Area                                                                   :         78438 Sq.Km.

Principal Languages                                            :         Assamese, Bengali, Boro, Nepali,

                                                                                    Manipuri.

Population                                                          :         2,66,38,407 (As on 2001)

Peracentage of decadal growth of population       :         18.85

(1990 – 2001)

            Male                                                      :         1,37,87,799

            Female                                                   :         1,28,50,608

Rural                                                                  :         2,32,48,994

            Male                                                      :         1,19,83,157

            Female                                                   :         1,12,65,837

Urban                                                                 :         33,89,413

            Male                                                      :         18,04,642

            Female                                                   :         15,84,771

% of urban population                                         :         12.72%

Child between six years                                      :         43 ,50,248 (As on 2001)

            Male                                                      :         22,15,104

            Female                                                   :         21,35,144

Literacy rate                                                       :         64.28%

            Women literate                                       :         60,03,463 (56.03)

            Male literate                                           :         83,24,077 (71.93%)

Infrastructure:

Roads                                                                :         89486 Km (As per Annual Report of Union M/o surface transport as on 31-3-03 )

Railway route length                                            :         2516.12 Km (including 1227.71 Km Broad gauge and 1288.55 Km as on 31.3.02).

Railway route density per thousand Sq.Km         :         32.08 Km

In 2004

No. of Airports                                                   :         5 Nos. (Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Jorhat, Silchar and Lilabari

Per capita consumption of Electricity in 2002-03 :         159.97 Kwh. (As against national average of 516.69 Kwh)

Social Infrastructure:

            No. of Towns (as per 2001 Census)       :         125

            No. of Districts                                       :         27

            No. of Government Hospitals                  :         161

            No. of Post Office                                  :         4008

            No. of Bank branches (As on 31-3-05 ): 1256

            Amount of Deposit (in Crores)                :         Rs.18311.10 Crores

            (As on 31-3-05 )

            Credit Deposit Ratio (As on 31-3-05 )  :  35.55

Major Industries/Crops/Minerals                   :         Industries exploration and refining of petroleum, Coal, Saw Plywood & Veneer Mills, Lime, Paper, Handloom & Handicrafts (Bamboo & Cane), Sericulture, Brass & Bell metal. Crops: Tea, Rice, Jute, Cotton, Oil seeds, Sugarcane.

Total number or family  below Poverty Line n(District & Sub-division-wise) :   

                  District                               Sub-Division                             No. of Family

                  Dhubri                                Dhubri                                            48278

                                                            Hatsingimari                                    29710

                                                            Bilasipara                                       35460

                  Kokrajhar                          Kokrajhar                                      41780

                                                            Gossaigaon                                     27437

                  Bongaigaon                        Bongaigaon                                    20342

                                                            Bijni                                               26700

                                                            North Salmara                                 24058

                  Goalpara                            Goalpara                                        56870

                  Barpeta                              Barpeta                                          88170

                                                            Baghmara char GPSS                       2250

                                                            Bajali                                              27892

                  Nalbari                               Nalbari                                           90061

                  Kamrup (M)                       Kamrup                                          24596

                  Kamrup (R)                        Kamrup                                          92656       

                                                            Rangia                                            37860

                  Darang                               Mangaldoi                                      69720

                                                            Udalguri                                         41894

                  Sonitpur                             Tezpur                                            74250

                                                            Biswanath Chariali                          22254

                                                            Gohpur                                           24322

                  Lakhimpur                          North – Lakhimpur                         51525

                                                            Dhakuakhana                                 14880

                  Dhemaji                              Dhemaji                                          31414

                                                            Jonai                                              10810

                  Tinsukia                              Tinsukia                                          49295

                                                            Margherita                                      20800

                                                            Sadiya                                            10100

                  Dibrugarh                           Dibrugarh                                       79740

                  Sivasagar                            Sivasagar                                        35525

                                                            Charaideo                                      30530

                                                            Nazira                                            12980

                  Jorhat                                 Jorhat                                             40438

                                                            Titabar                                           22254

                                                            Majuli                                             13480

                  Golaghat                             Golaghat                                         42199

                                                            Dhansiri                                          15040

                                                            Bokakhat                                       13196

                  Nagaon                              Nagaon                                          91843

                                                            Hojai                                              50204

                                                            Kaliabar                                         22920

                  Marigaon                            Marigaon                                        53707

                  Cachar                               Silchar                                            88440

                                                            Lakhipur                                         18190

                  Hailakandi                          Hailakandi                                      40350

                  Karimganj                          Karimganj                                      56076

                  Karbi Anglong                    Diphu                                             25140

                                                            Hamren                                          16600

                                                            Bokajan                                           9768

                  N.C. Hills                           Haflong                                          10705

                                                            Maibong                                           7566

                                                                                                             _________

                                                                                         Total:           18,92,616 Nos.of family

                                                                                                             ========               

            Total Holding Pattern –

            (i)  Whether Forest Land owned by individual :  3560 Sq.Km of Forest land

                                                                                          under encroachment

            (ii) By the Government                                        :

            Total No. of major  : 1.Brahmaputra                               2. Barak

             river & their                Tributaries                     Kms.          Tributaries            Kms.

             tributaries                               

                                                (a)  Buhridihing       -  360             (a)  Sonai               NA

(b)  Dichang            -  230             (b) Dhaleswari      NA

(c)  Dikhow             -  200            (c)  Langai              NA

(d)  Janji                 -  108             (d)  Jiri                  NA

(e)  Dhansiri (South)  352            (e)  Chiri                 NA

(f)  Puthimari          -  190            (f)  Jhatinga           NA

(g) Pagladia                 NA

(h)  Nanoi               -     97

(i)  Dhansiri (North)    94

(j)  Dikrong            -   134

(k)  Ranganadi       -   102

(l)   Sowansiri        -   318

(m) Dihang           -    263

(n)  Lohit              -    192

(o)  Jia Bharalu     -   NA

(p)  Kalong            -    171

(q)  Kapili              -    297 

(r)   Kulasi             -    122

(s)   Jinjiram          -    143

(t)   Krishnai          -      81

(u)  Gangadhar      -     99

(v)  Aai                  -    103

(w)  Manas            -    353

            Total Nos. of National High Ways            :  No. of National                    Length 

                                                                              Highway                                   Km

                                                                                    NH – 31                                     308.788

                                                                                                                NH – 31 (b)                                19.400

                                                                                                                NH – 31 (c)                                 92.200

                                                                                                                NH – 36                                     161.833

                                                                                                                NH – 37                                     685.839

                                                                                                                NH – 37 (a)                                23.104

                                                                                                                NH – 38                                       56.000

                                                                                                                NH – 39                                     106.780

                                                                                                                NH – 44                                     150.000

                                                                                                                NH – 51                                       21.853

                                                                                                                NH – 52                                     540.764

                                                                                                                NH – 52 (a)                                  9.106

                                                                                                                NH – 52 (b)                                32.000

                                                                                                                NH – 53                                       73.554

                                                                                                                NH – 54                                       40.300

                                                                                                                NH – 54(e)                                277.337

                                                                                                                NH – 61                                       17.510

                                                                                                                NH – 62                                         8.600

                                                                                                                NH – 151                                     14.000

                                                                                                                NH – 152                                     38.000

                                                                                                                NH – 153                                     24.000

                                                                                                                NH – 154                                     89.000

            Road length (PWD ) as on October, 2004        :  35104 Km

            (a )  Surfaced