URBANIZATION IN THE HILL DISTRICTS OF ASSAM

54 CHAPTER 3 URBANIZATION IN THE HILL DISTRICTS OF ASSAM 3.1 Process of Urbanization in the Hill Districts of Assam: An Overview: Urbanization has been considered as a distinct measuring-stick of prosperity and development in a society. Factors of various kinds, some times alone, or in combination with others are responsible for the growth of urban centres; while development of a centre is associated with the functions of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. It encompasses also the aspects like livelihood, education, health, art & culture, tradition, politics, science & technology, transport and communication, recreation and so on and so forth. Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills- the only two hilly districts of Assam are physically remote, economically under-developed and socially still backward in comparison with the plain districts. The man-land ratio, i.e. the population density in these districts is significantly low (Table-2.2). Orography and remoteness have been playing an important role on the uneven distribution of population throughout the districts. Compared with other districts of Assam, based on the last population census of 2001, the districts of Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills rank 10th and 2nd respectively from the viewpoint of district s percentage of urban population (Table-3.2). In fact, the actual urbanization mechanism in this area took its own shape after 1951 when the single political unit comprising the present two hill districts was

55 emerged. But, the histoiy refers to that of the oldest urban centre in this study-area as Haflong (Table-3.4). Table-3.1 Distribution of Urban Population in India, 2001 SLNo. State/Union Territory* Percentage of Urban Population 1 Jammu & Kashmir 24.88 2 Himachal Pradesh 9.79 3 Punjab 33.95 4 Uttaranchal 25.59 5 Haryana 29.00 6 Rajasthan 23.38 7 Uttar Pradesh 20.78 8 Bihar 10.47 9 Sikkim 11.10 10 Arunachal Pradesh 20.41 11 Nagaland 17.74, 12 Manipur 23.88 13 Mizoram 49.50 14 Tripura 17.02 15 Meghalaya 19.63 16 Assam 12.90 17 West Bengal 28.03 18 Jharkhand 22.25 19 Orissa 14.97 20 Chhattishgarh 20.08 21 Madhya Pradesh 26.67 22 Gujarat 37.35 23 Maharashtra 42.40 24 Andhra Pradesh 27.08 25 Karnataka 33.98 26 Goa 49.77 27 Kerala 25.97 28 Tamil Nadu 43.86 29 Chandigarh* 89.78 30 Delhi* 93.01 31 Daman & Diu* 36.26 32 Dadra & Nagar Haveli* 22.89 33 Lakshadweep* 44.47 34 Pondicherry* 66.57 35 Andaman & Nicobar Islands* 32.67 INDIA 27.78 Source: (a) Census of India 2001, Provisional Population Census (Paper-2), Series 19-Assam. (b) Census of India 2001, Primary Census Abstract, Series 19-Assam.

56 Table-3.2 District-wise Urban Population and Number of Towns in Assam, 2001 SI. No. District Total Population Urban Population % of Urban % to State s Total Urban Population Number of Towns Population 1 Kokrajhar 905,764 63941 7.06 1.86 4 2 Dhubri 1637344 192443 11.75 5.60 8 3 Goalpara 822035 66902 8.14 1.95 3 4 Bongaigaon 904835 109782 12.13 3.19 4 5 Barpeta 1647201 126868 7.70 3.69 7 6 Kamrup 2522324 908217 36.01 26.41 9 7 Nalbari 1148824 27486 2.39 0.80 2 8 Darrang 1504320 74828 4.97 2.18 4 9 Morigaon 776256 37988 4.89 1.10 2 10 Nagaon 2314629 278287 12.02 8.09 7 11 Sonitpur 1681513 175794 10.45 5.11 5 12 Lakhimpur 889010 65153 7.33 1.89 2 13 Dhemaji 571944 38832 6.79 1.13 3 14 Tinsukia 1150062 223957 19.47 6.51 8 15 Dibrugarh 1185072 228438 19.28 6.64 8 16 Sibsagar 1051738 97179 9.24 2.83 5 17 Joraht 999221 171320 17.15 4.98 4 18 Golaghat 946279 81138 8.57 2.36 6 19 Karbi 813311 91930 11.30 2.67 6 Anglong 20 N. C. Hills 188079 59435 31.60 1.73 4 21 Cachar 1444921 201387 13.94 5.86 3 22 Karimganj 1007976 73850 7.33 2.15 3 23 Hailakandi 542872 44085 8.12 1.28 3 «ASSAM 26655528 3439240 12.90 100.00 UO Source: Census of India 2001, Primary Census Abstract, Series 19-Assam.

57 Table - 3.3 Growth of Urban Population and Urban Centres in Assam and in the Hill Districts (1951-2001) State & Year Total Rural Urban % of % of Urban Number District Population Population Population Urban to State s of Towns Population Total Urban 1951 8,830,732 8,420,439 410,293 4.65 100 25 1961 11,872,772 10,959,744 913,028 7.69 100 54 Assam 1971 14,625,152 13,335,930 1,289,222 8.82 100 71 1991 22,414,322 19,926,527 2,487,795 11.10 100 86 2001 26,655,528 23,216,288 3,439,240 12.90 100 110 1951 125,777 125,777 Karbi Anglong 1961 225,407 222,290 3,117 1.38 0.34 1 1971 379,310 369,110 10,200 2.69 0.79 1 1991 662,723 592,257 70,466 10.63 2.83 6 2001 813,311 721,381 91,930 11.30 2.67 6 1951 39,663 37,495 2,168 5.47 0.53 1 N.C. Hills 1961 54,319 51,054 3,265 6.01 0.36 1 1971 76,047 70,850 5,197 6.83 0.40 1 1991 150,801 116,315 34,486 22.87 1.39 3 2001 188,079 128,644 59,435 31.60 1.73 4 Source: (a) District Statistical Abstract: United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District, 1963, District Statistical Office, M&N.C. HillsDistrict,Diphu. (b) Census of India, 1961, Vol-UI Assam Part-1 -A. (c) Census of India, 1971, Series-3 Assam? (d) Census of India, 1991, Series-4. (e) The Assam Gazette, Extraordinary, Final Master Plan and Zoning Regulation for Diphu, 5th December, 1996, p. 1785.

58 Twenty-seven point seven eight percent population of our country is urban; while it is only 12.90% in case of Assam being one of the less urbanized states, according to 2001 Census. Amongst the un-divided twenty-three districts of Assam, Kamrup comprising the capital-city of Guwahati stands on the first position in respect of urbanization. Considering district s total population, N.C. Hills accounts for 31.60% being the second most-urbanized district of the state despite its contribution to the state s total urban population is less than 2%. On the other hand, having 11.30% of urban population, the district of Karbi Anglong attains 10th position, according to population census of2001 (Table-3.2). Out of 110 number towns/urban centers, according to 2001 Census in the state of Assam, the hill districts together possess 10 number; of which Karbi Anglong breeds six and and remaining four are located in N.C. Hills (Table-3.2). Of late, the declaration of one more new urban centre in Karbi Anglong district raises the number of total towns to 11 in the hilly region. During the second-half of the 20th Centuiy (up to 2001), the growth of urban population in the districts of Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills have been taking place significantly at faster rates despite their contribution to state s total urban is much lower. In case of Assam as a whole, the addition of 30,28,947 urban population during the census years of 1951 and 2001 accounts for only 738.24% growth; while it is 2,849.31% for Karbi Anglong with an addition of 88,813 persons; and for N.C. «Hills, it is 2,641.47% with an addition of 57,267 urbanites (Table-3.3). Apart from the district headquarters, the emergence of other urban centres in different locations of the districts could be seen since 1970s. Till the year of 2001,

59 there were six numbers of towns in Karbi Anglong and four in N.C. Hills district. On May 5th, 2008, Bakulia, a road-side place on the N.H.-36 in the district of Karbi Ahglong has newly been notified as town by the authority of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. The other towns/urban centres of the district are: (i) Diphu, (ii) Bokajan, (iii) Howraghat, (iv) Dokmoka, (v) Hamren and (vi) Dongkamukam. On the other hand, the four towns/urban centres of N.C. Hills are: (i) Haflong, (ii) Maibang, (iii) Mahur and (iv) Umrongso (Table-3.4).

, Table -3.4 Howraghat NA NA NA NA 3726 2044 1682 Dokmoka 4109 2266 Hamren 3761 2107 1654 Dongkamukam 8298 4299 3999 Bakulta* 70466 39064 31402 1273 5 18 5197 3088 2109 5 18 NA NA NA Maibang 5899 3377 Mahur Umrongso District s Total 34486 19326 15160 * Bakulia has recently been notified as town by the Karbi Angtong Autonomous Council considering population data of 2001 Census Source: L Census o f India 1961, Demographic and Socio-economic Profiles o f the Hill Areas ofnorth-east India, p. ii (Appendix I) ii. Census o f India 1971, Series 3 Assam, PartX-A, Primary Census Abstract, Mikir Hills District, p. 134 17.79 6264 9131 59435 19946 16356 3560 5010 4121 32807 26628 12 79 300 10 53 28.60 661 NA 3265 988 District s Total Haflong 1471 932 539 NA 2168 1302 1000 4 00 37.64 14219 8240 6359 6552 3943 NA NA 7 00 $9 SI. No..^J^Gi^Blqf^Population and Area in the Urban Centresfql^ipl^i'gldhg and North Cachar Hills Districts, Assam Years Towns Diphu Total Area Total I M Area Total 3117 NA NA Total 10200 6526 1971 3674 Area 1981 Total Area 23317 13979 9338 9 37 Total 1991 22326 17221 Bokajan 11025 6022 5003 Area Total 52310 27890 24420 1648 1961 1941 1951 iii. Census ofindia 1991, Series 4 Assam, Part II-B, Primary Census Abstract, p. 142 (Karbi Anglong), p. 148 (N.C.Hills) iv. Census o f India 2001, Assam, Series 19, Primary Census Abstract, p 126 v. The Assam Gazette, Extraordinary, Final Master Plan and Zoning Regulation for Diphu, 5th December, 1996, p.p. 1785-86 v/. Gazetteer o f India: Assam State- United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District, 1979, p, 65

61 Map - 3.1 s' A t (' 1 ^/\j- MAP OF KARBIANGLONG & N.C.HILLS.>------ n-t ^ hr ^\ 26 LOCATH)N OF URBAN CENTRES r* '*> c L\ l5. SCALE 0 15 30 1------------ 11-... 1 - =?./ a/ J K1 LOMETRE Dokmoka % -----\ o 'l >Y ^^Howragh at V '\ /\> f r S rs.. C\ B akulia / o Donkami o Hamren is \ \ \ W. S /v% -v / MEC HALAYA STATE \ '. / v r j / r X T < \ S \ V..j JvT'r A / > \._ Diphu r/ S --... -pir* 7 r Ia i A ) j j > Boki jai NAGALAND S3 ATE s OllgSO w c - LEGEP A A District H.Q.»ang ^ 'n \ Mai Other Town Railway Line / District c' Haflongl Boundary (? ' 'Mahu./? "S nistr <*' a.: * MANIPUR STATE i 92 15' 92 30' 92 45' 93 00' 93 15' 93 30' 93 45y E 30' N 26 15' 26 P 00' * 25 45' 25 30' 25 15' 25 Source: School Atlas

62 3.2 Emergence of Urban Centres in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills: Most of the urban centres in the hill-districts of Assam are the outcome of administrative activities, for which they could simply be considered as administrative centres. Of course, there are some other factors to act upon the processes of growth of the centres. Diphu: Diphu, being the district s headquarters is the principal town of Karbi Anglong. Detail explanation and interpretation have been done in the analytical part of this work ahead considering this urban centre as special reference. Bokajan: At the co-ordination of 26 01'15" north parallel of latitude and 93 46'10" east meridian of longitude, Bokajan is situated on the bank of river Dhansiri in the eastern part of Karbi Anglong district, about 66 km. away from Diphu. Average altitude of the town from the mean sea level is 144 metres. At present, with seven numbers of wards the town occupies an area of 3.65 sq km. with no change from the time of notification as town on 6th of April, 1988. Bokajan, basically being an industrial town has become the sub-divisional headquarters of Bokajan sub-division since 15 August, 1990. With the establishment of the Bokajan Cement Factory of Cement Corporation of India in 1971, the rural

63 Map - 3.2 area during that time attracted people from different parte of the state and the country as well. Out of the total in the town, the factory together with its residential sites occupies an area of only 0.60 sq km. The 1991 population census records show the total populations of 11,025 persons in the towns; of which 6,022 are male and remaining 5,003 are female. In *2001, total population becomes 14,219 with 7,667 male and 6,552 female. Density of population as per 1991 and 2001 census is 3020 and 3896 persons per sq km. respectively.

64 Howraghat: Being located latitudinally at 26 06'32" north and longitudinally at 93 02'15" east, Howraghat originally was a small trading centre of old Assam. With the passage of time it became an administrative centre of Karbi Anglong district on Map - 3.3 the bank of the Jamuna river. The Town develops over a flood-plain area with an average altitude of 81 metres above the msl.

65 Howraghat was notified as town in 1975 constituting five numbers of wards with 1.51 sq km. geographical area. Even after 33 years of declaration, no extension of the town boundary has been made till date. Total population increased from 3,726 in 1991 to only 4,052 in 2001. Likewise, population density within the town area is 2,468 and 2,683 as per 1991 and 2001 census respectively. Dokmoka: Dokmoka, a road-side small market town on the National Highway 36 is located at the co-ordinating point of 26 12'22" north latitude and 93 03'12" east longitude. Lying on a river plain at 74 metres altitude from the msl., the town spreads over an area of 2.00 sq km., about 84 kilometres away from Diphu. Map-3.4 Source:: Dokmoka Town Committee

67 Comprising the entire western part of the then Mikir Hills District, a new sub-division named as Hamren sub-division was formed on first of January, 1971. Since then the place Hamren, which was originally known as Umteli became the sub-divisional headquarters. On May 16, 1985, the Authority of Karbi Anglong District Council declared this administrative centre as town encompassing about 4.68 sq km. (3,500 bighas) of land. By 1991, the town area became 10.00 sq km. with a total population of 3761. As per the census of 2001, the number of urbanites in Hamren became 8445. During 1990s a new area of 0.50 sq km. was added to the town comprising parts of a few surrounding villages. The very recent addition of new areas for the preparation of Master Plan of the town increases the total amounting to 27.87 sq km. Dongkamukam: Being situated latitudinally at 25 55'50" North and longitudinally at 92 42'20" East, this small township develops on a foot-hill plain area with an average altitude of 70 metres above the msl. in the western part of Karbi Anglong district. Dongkamukam, popularly known as Dongka was declared as a notified area for constituting a Town Committee on 28 January, 1988 comprising originally 4 sq km. of area.. But in the later period, the area under Town Committee has been reduced to 3 sq km. for some, unknown reasons. This administrative-cum-markettown reflects some un-natural population growth during the past decades.

66 Declared on 10th April of 1987 comprising six numbers of wards, the town still has same quantity of land area having no latter addition. According to 1991 census, total urbanites living in the town were 4,109. By 2001, it increased to 4,664 with 2,506 male and 2,158 females. Hamren: Lying on a purely hilly topography at an average altitude of 405 metres above the msl., Hamren is globally located at 25 50'40" north latitude and 92 34'30" east longitude, about 170 km. away from Diphu in the western part of Karbi Anglong district. Map - 3.5 MAP OF HAMREN TOWN MASTER PLAN AREA To Rongclick To Baithalangso KII OMF'l»F BOUNDARY MASTER PLAN AREA TOWN COMMITTEE AREA PRIMARY ROAD SECONDARY ROAD TERTIARY ROAD QUARTERNARY ROAD PEDESTRIAN PATH RIVER & STREAM, - * Source: Town and Country Planning Department, Diphu, and Hamren Town Committee

69 Bakulia: This veiy young township is a road-side market town. Having been notified recently on 5th of May, 2008, Bakulia has become the seventh town of Karbi Anglong district. Situated on the National Highway 36, Bakulia s global position is at latitudinally 26 03'36" North and longitudinally 93 11'21" East with an average elevation of 104 metres above the msl. and is about 58 Kilometres away from Diphu. Map-3.7 Source: Town and Country Planning Department, Diphu, and Bakulia Town Committee

68 Map - 3.6 Source: Dongkamukam Town Committee According to 1991 census, the total population of the town was 8,298 with 4,299 males and 3,999 females. But as per the census records of 2001, population decreased by 58 persons being the total of 8,240. The reasons behind this negative growth of population in the town could be traced as the difference in total geographical area of consideration during 1991 and 2001 census (Table-3.4), and the shifting of homes of many service-holders to nearby Hojai town of Nagaon district during this period.

71 Cachar Hills District Council with effects from lsl April, 1953 and subsequently it was reconstituted as Haflong Town Committee in 1956. Map-3.8 Source: Town and Country Planning Department, Haflong,, and Haflong Town Committee

70 Originally, it was a Ghat - a landing place on the river-bank of Jamuna for trade and commerce in the past. In due course, establishment of governmental offices and educational institutions attracted many people to settle here. Total population of the town has been estimated at 6,359 based upon the census records of 2001. The notified area, being about 7.00 sq km. encompasses as many as 18 numbers of villages on either side of the highway. Hailong: Situated on the spur of the Barail Range toward the northern slope and globally positioned at 25 10T0" north latitude and 93 01'00" east longitude, Haflong is said to be second Shillong for its scenic beauty and pleasant weather. Its average altitude as per GPS survey is about 682 metres at Lalfield area, while the highest elevation at Natun Kunjung area has been recorded as 785 metres above the msl. Haflong is the oldest amongst all the towns in both the hill-districts of Assam. Its history may be traced back to the year 1895 when the sub-divisional headquarters were transferred from Gunjung to Haflong. Following the construction and completion of Assam Bengal Railway line (Hill section) in 1904, a new regular hat (market) was opened in that area. The then Government of British India created Haflong Bazar Fund which continued to function till 1912 when it was converted into Bazar Fund of North Cachar Hills. In 1931, Haflong Town Fund Committee was constituted.20 This Committee came under the purview of North 20 Gazetteer of India: Assam State- United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District, 1979, p. 316.

72 Data on population have been obtained since the census year of 1941 when its total population was only 1471, out of which 932 males and the remaining 539 were females (Table-3.4). No specific town boundaiy and area have been found being demarcated until 1961 when total town area was considered as 5.18 sq km. With the addition of 7.61 sq km. the town attained a total area of 12.79 sq km. by 1991 census year, and no territorial expansion has been taken place till today. Since its beginning, Haflong has been the principal administrative centre of N.C. Hills district. Unlike the towns of Karbi Anglong, the towns in N.C. Hills district including Haflong have no wards. The town boundary of Haflong is demarcated and also restricted by the circular railway route. Total number of urbanites in Haflong as per 1991 census was 26,370, which became 36,302 by 2001 (Table-3.4). During the last 5-6 years, particularly from the outbreak of the Hmar-Dimasa ethnic conflict of 2003, rapid population growth mainly because of migration from rural areas has been taking place. The Karbi-Dimasa ethnic clash of 2005 also accelerates the rate of rural-urban migration. Movement of non-tribal population in search of livelihood has also been seen in this urban centre. Maibang: Maibang, a historic place of Kachari (Dimasa) Kingdom is situated over a low flatfish part of the upper Diyung river valley bn the bank of Mahur river in the district of N.C. Hills. With an average altitude of 274 metres above the msl., the town s global position is at 25 18'00" north latitude and 93 08'20" east longitude.

73 Maibang was the Capital of Kachari Kingdom until the Ahom s invasion in 1706. It was declared as urban centre by constituting a town committee on 22nd April, 1985. Basically being a market place associated with administrative activities, this urban centre has been growing gradually with different groups of people. Map - 3.9 Source: Town and Country Planning Department, Haflong,, and Maibang Town Committee At the time of notification as town, Maibang s total area was about 2.00 sq km. With a new addition of 0.28 sq km. by redemarcating the town boundary

74 towards north and south it becomes 2.28 sq km. In 1991, Maibang recorded a total population of 5,899 with 3,377 and 2,522 males and females respectively. The total population, as per 2001 census increased by 1,839, becomes 7,738 of which 4,291 are males and the remaining 3,447 are females. Mahur: Mahur, a small hill-town on the bank of the Diyung river is located at the intersecting point of 25 10'48" north parallel and 93 07'00"east meridian at a height of 553 metres from the msl. in the district of N.C. Hills. Map-3.10 Source: Mahur Town Committee

75 Mahur was one of the oldest market centres (weekly) in the district, and therefore has been grown up as a market town attracting people from the nearby areas and beyond in course of time. Covering an area of about 3.00 sq km., the N.C. Hills Districrt Council notified Mahur as town on 5th of March, 1988. As per the 1991 census the total population with 1227 males and 990 females was only 2217, and by 2001 it became 6264 with the decadal growth of 182.54%. Umrongso: With its global location at 25 30'37" north latitude and 92 44'09" east longitude, Umrongso lies on a low-relief undulating topography at an altitude of 636 metres above the msl. in the western part of N.C. Hills district. Map-3.11 Source: Umrongso Town Committee

76 It is purely an industrial town based chiefly on the Kopili Hydro-Electric Project of NEEPCO. The existing cement industries have also some considerable contribution towards the development of the urban centre. Despite the inauguration of the Umrongso Town Committee in January 1990, the town was in fact, formally notified few years later indicating its boundary by the N.C. Hills Autonomous Council on 19th of May, 1997. Within a total area of 10.53 sq km., there were, according 2001 census, 9,131 urbanites of which 5,010 were males, and the remaining 4,121 were females. It has been understood from the records of population census carried out by the Town Committee that migration from the countryside of the districts and from the neighbouring districts as well has been a common phenomenon during the recent years. 3.3 Special Aspects of Urbanization in the Hill Districts of Assam: Urbanization is a continuous process of social as well as physical transformation from rural to urban areas. It differs from place to place and from region to region in respect of pattern and characteristics depending upon sociopolitico-environmental set-up. Following are some of the special aspects of urbanization in these hill districts which have been observed during the course of research. «i. Notification and declaration of urban area, ii. Administrative segmentation of town area, iii. Encroachment and occupation of lands and iv. Transfer and alienation of lands.

77 i. Notification and Declaration of Urban Area: Since both the hill districts have been avowed as the Sixth Scheduled area, and each of the districts is primarily governed by a local administrative body known as Autonomous (District) Council. The state government of Assam has entrusted (transferred) a number of departments for execution of developmental works. It is observed that while notifying a place or an area under its jurisdiction as a town/urban centre the local authority sometimes hardly takes the fundamental criteria into account as framed by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India for the purpose. Once being notified, it is summarily declared by the government. ii. Administrative Segmentation of Town Area: In general, urban areas are divided into different segments as wards, etc. for the convenience of administrative purpose or the others. In these hill districts, no other towns except Diphu, Bokajan, Howraghat and Dokmoka of Karbi Anglong have been found having administrative segments/divisions duly demarcated. Unlike the town committees in Karbi Anglong, the town committees of N.C. Hills are adhoc in nature, as all the members of the committees are nominated by the N.C. Hills (District) Autonomous Council. Election is not held for the purpose. Ward system in the urban centres has not been implemented so far. ili. Encroachment and Occupation of Lands: Although encroachment and occupation of lands are commoa phenomena in any urban area everywhere in the state, it is found much higher in case of these hill districts. Since the authority of the lands in these districts is the district s Autonomous Council, and any sort of opportunity can be availed by the people of

78 the indigenous tribal communities irrespective of legality. This is why unauthorized encroachment and occupation of public lands (and properties) are quite common in the towns. iv. Transfer and Alienation of Lands: Unlike other areas, there prevail some special acts and laws in these hill districts under Sixth Scheduled area of the state in regard to the transfer and alienation of lands or change of ownerships. Transfer of land in any form ffom tribal to non-tribal or non-tribal to another non-tribal is strictly prohibited. Summary Statement: The comparative study between the hill districts and the rest plain districts of Assam reveals the status of the urbanization processes in the region. The high growth rate of urban population in these hill districts during the second-half of the 20th Century (1951-2001) is the result of the emergence of new urban centres in different locations. Most of the presently existing 11 number of urban centres in these two hill districts are basically administrative and market towns. Some of them are growing fast whereas some are gradual in respect of growth and development. The special characteristics (aspects) of the region with regard to urbanization processes have been found to be significant in analyzing the research problem. 4» These typical features have their distinct impacts upon the mechanism of urbanization in the hill districts.