TRIPURA AT A GLANCE

Location:

Tripura is a hilly land locked state located in the southern tip of North East India and is endowed with vast green forest with extremely rich bio-diversity. The State has a total area of 10,492 Sq.km. and is stretched between 22.56o and 24.32o North Latitude and 91.09o and 92.20o East Longitudes. The state was merged with the Indian Union on October 15, 1949, after independence. It became a Union Territory of India on 1st July 1963 and attained statehood on 21 January 1972 .

Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on all sides except for a narrow neck in the north-east where it borders Assam & Mizoram. The State hs a long international border with Bangladesh which runs 856 Km. It shares a common national borderof 109 km. with neighbouring State Mizoeram and 53 Km. Stretch with Assam.

The State is divided into 4 (four) districts namely :

North Tripura District

South Tripura District

West Tripura District

Dhalai District.

It has 1 (one) Autonomous District Council. It is further regrouped into 15 sub-divisions and 40 blocks. There are 4 Zilla Parishads, 23 Panchayat Samitees and 537 elected Gram Panchayats. The state is mostly hilly and the prominent hill ranges are Jampui, Sakhantang, Longtharai, Atharamura, Baramura, Deotamura, Belkum and Kalajhari. The import forest products are Sal, Teak, Gamari, Gurjan and Champa. The Bamboo is available abundantly in the State and is mostly being used for traditional handicrafts and multipurpose uses mostly by the tribal people.

Physiography:

The state lies between the river valley of Burmura , Debtamura, Bongrai, Sakhan and Jampuri, the land rising in height from north to south. About 60% of total area is hilly land and remaining 40% flat lands accommodate nearly 65% of the population.

Climate:

Climate of Tripura is moderate with a humid atmosphere. December to February is cold season, March to May is summer and June to September is south west monsoon season.

Rainfall:

The average rainfall in Tripura is 2100mm, the bulk of which is in the form of thunder showers. The land is subjected to strong winds and thunder storms.

Population:

Tripura is predominantly rural. The highest densities of population are in the states most fertile agricultural lands located in the western plains and the Gumti, Dharmanagar and Khowai valleys.

Apart from Bengalis and Manipuris, Tripura has 19 different tribal communities of the tribes the important one are – (i) Tripuri, (ii) Reang, (iii) Jamatia, (iv) Chakma, (v) Lusai, (vi) Mog, (vii) Garo, (viii) Kuki, (ix) Chimal, (x) Uichai, (xi) Halam, (xii) Khasia, (xiii) Bhutia, (xiv) Kunda, (xv) Orang, (xvi) Lepcha, (xvii) Santal, (xviii) Bhil, (xix) Noatia. Towns are concentrated on the western plain where the state capital Agartala is located.

Economy:

The economy of the state is mainly based on agriculture. Out of the total geographical area, 60% approximately is covered by forest and 27% of the land is available for cultivation. Shifting cultivation is practice in hill areas. Main crops of Tripura are rice, jute, potato, wheat, oil seeds, coffee. As per Forest Survey of India’s report of 1997, 5546 Sq.km land area was under forest cover which has gone up to 7065 Sq.km. in 2001. Bamboo and cane are widely grown in the forest areas.

Area : 10486 Sq.Km.

Principal Languages : Bengali, Kakbara,Manipuri

Population : 3191168

Male : 1636138

Female : 1555030

% of decadal growth of population : 16.13%

(1990 – 2001)

Rural : 2648074

Male : 1359288

Female : 1288786

Urban : 543094

Male : 276850

Female : 266244

% of urban population : 17.02%

Child between six years : 427012

Male : 216244

Female : 210768

Literacy rate : 

Women literate : 879735

Male literate : 1156824

Density of population : 304

Infrastructure:

Roads (As on 2003) : 16296 Km

Railway route length (As on 31.3.02). : 44.72 Km

Railway route density per thousand Sq.Km : 4.28 Km

In 2004

No. of Airports : 1 (One), Agartala

Per capita consumption of Electricity in 2002-03 : 327.26 Kwh

Social Infrastructure:

No. of Towns : 3 (Agartala, Kailashahar, Udaipur )

No. of Districts : 4

No. of Government Hospitals : 29

No. of Post Office : 712

No. of Bank branches (As on 31-3-05 ): 180

Amount of Deposit (in Crores) : Rs.2719.68 Crores (As on 31-3-05 )

Advances in Crores (As on 31-3-05 ) : Rs.938.39

Credit Deposit Ratio (As on 31-3-05 ) : 34.50

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.

District-wise population : 

(As per 2001 Census)

Total population below poverty line: 55% of the population as per 2001 Census.

Total no.of Major rivers : 1. Gomoti

2. Howrah

3. Dhalai

4. Muhuri

5. Feni

6. Juri

Total no.of National Highways : NH-44, 333 Km.

Name of PWD Road : 

State Major Other RD/ADC IBB

H.W District District Village Road

Road Road Road. . .

545 Km 90 Km 1362 Km 7912 Km 582 Km

Total : 15524 Km

No.of Industrial Estates:

Total Power Scenario:

Total Power Generation in the state : 501.48 MW

Power availability : 113.00 MW

Peak Demand : 165.00 MW

Total Nos. of District : 4

Total Nos. of Villages : 856

Name of District No.of Villages. No.of Household

1. West Tripura 274 Nos. 136512

2. North Tripura 163 Nos. 78802

3. South Tripura 263 Nos. 102908

4. Dholai 156 Nos. Dombunga, Calema, Total 856 Nos. Ambassa, Sanaw mam

Un-employment Scenario : Registered job seeker is 4,06,566 as on 2003-04.

Total area under forest : 6294.287 Sq.M

Total Bamboo Cultivation area : 4682.04 Hectare.

Under Forest :

Total Quantity of Bamboo Harvested yearly (in MT): Recorded 143,557 MT

Methods of Collection of Bamboo : Local tribal people are allowed to collect bamboo from Forest free of cost. If they sell bamboo to other purchaser, forest Deptt. collect levies/royalty as such transaction. Permit are also allowed by the Divisional Forest Officer for collection of bamboo from Forest by collecting of royalty.

Total income from bamboo per year: 2002-03 = 1.03 Crore by Forest Department 2003-04 = 1.75 “2004-05 = 1.21 “

Department arrangement of bamboo: Bamboo plantation has been initiated in Plantation (in hectare) forest land through Departmental Agency and through joint Forest Management Committee. In forest area forest department sponsored bamboo plantation under the scheme of Anganbadi Prakalpa (Social Forestry) by providing incentives to Private Land owner.

Departmental arrangement for : Bamboo Nursery has been started through Bamboo Nursery Forest Department, Agency and Joint Forest Management Committee.

(in MT/ Nos.)

Present Utilization : (i) Pulp & Paper = 30,000

(ii) Handicrafts

(iii) Food Items = 91,000

(iv) Households

(v) Other industrial = 2,500 Umbrella handle

(vi) Any other (specify) = 20,000 Incense sticks.

Forest : Around 60% of the geographical area of Tripura is under forest cover.

The following table shows the district wise breakup of forest area.

Table In sq. Km.

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Tripura.

Revenue earned through disposal of forest product is given below. Yr. 2000-2001 (provisional) Source Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Tripura.

Sl.No. Item Amt.(Rs. in Crores)

1. Timber 0.462

2. Fine wood 0.035

3. Bamboo 0.811

4. Others 6.046