Welcome to the Official Website of Purulia District

Purulia lies between 22.60 degree and 23.50 degree north latitude and 85.75 degree and 86.65 degree east longitude. The geographical area of the district is 6259 sq. kms. This district is encircled by Bankura, Midnapore and Burdwan district of West Bengal and Hazaribag, Singbhum, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Bokaro of Jharkhand state

The total geographical area of the district is 6259 sq. kms (Census 2001). Out of which the Urban and Rural areas are 79.37 sq. kms (1.27%) (Municipalities & Non-Municipalities) and 6179.63 sq. kms (98.73 %) respectively.
Climate

Rainfall characterizes the climate of the district. South west monsoon is the principal source of rainfall in the district. Average annual rainfall varies between 1100 and 1500 mm. The relative humidity is high in monsoon season, being 75% to 85%. But in hot summer it comes down to 25% to 35%. Temperature varies over a wide range from 7 degree Celsius in winter to 46.80 degree Celsius in the summer.

The district is characterized by undulating topography with rugged hilly terrains in the western and southern parts. General elevation of the land surface ranges from 150 m to 300 m,the master slope being towards the east and south-east.In the eastern and south-eastern part of the district the slope ranges between 10 to 20 m/km. In the central part of the district the slope in less than 10m/km and forms a depression. Again in the western part the slope is higher and ranges from 20-80m/km.

Soil
In general three types of soils have been recognized in this district viz. (1) residual types derived from weathering of granites, gneisses and schist (2) Lateritic soil in the upland areas (3) Clay loam to clay in the valleys. Almost in the entire district soil is acidic with pH varying between 5.5 and 7.2 . On an average the soil contain 0.04 % nitrogen. 0.005 %P2O5 and 0.01 % K2O.The maximum nitrogen being 0.87 % and minimum 0.036 %. The fertility is low, as the soils contain very little organic matter.
Soil erosion is the most prominent phenomenon of the district resulting huge deposition of fertile soil in the valley region. Vast areas of land remained uncultivable wasteland. In this district total 165200 hec. of land is affected by soil erosion. Out of this affected land, 135000 hec is in non-forest areas and 30200 hec. in forest areas.
Wasteland data as per latest Landsat Thematic Mapper/IRS LISS II/III are shown below.

Sl. No.	Name of the class	Area (Sq. km.)
1.	Gullied and Ravenous land	69.85
2.	Land with or without scrub	498.32
3.	Degraded notified forest land	172.34
4.	Degraded pastures/grazing land	34.40
5.	Barren Rocky Area	103.54
6.	Steep Sloping Area	4.54
	Total Wastelands	883.39
	% to total Geo. Area	14.11

Cultivation of this district is predominantly monocropped. About 60 % of the total cultivated land is upland. Out of the total agricultural holding about 73 % belongs to small and marginal farmers having scattered and fragmented smallholding. Paddy is the primary crop of the district. 50% of the total land is under net-cropped area and only 17% of the net cropped area is under multi crop cultivation. 77% of the net-cropped area is under Aman paddy cultivation. The crops are grown mostly under rainfed condition, generally with low fertilizer consumption per unit area Thus per hec. production is also low as compared to other district of West Bengal.

Paradoxical, though, it may sound that this industrially backward district is endowed with mineral resources of a wide range of varieties. According to the findings of GSI there are ten types of mineral deposits in this district. The main ones being Coal, Limestone, Rock Phosphate, China Clay, Quartz etc.

The main mineral resource of the district is Coal.The Purulia district sustained two big Collieries. One is at Ranipur and the other is at Parbelia. Other Coal mines are Deoli and Bhamuria. Other important minerals so far explored and reported are Apatite or Rock Phosphate of Beldi,Panrkidi etc, Limestone of Jhalda, Basemetal of Tamakhun, China clay of Mahatomara, Fire clay of Malti, Quartz of mirmi, Siliminate of Paharpur, Decorative Stone of Bero, Dhunia etc.

The main rivers passing through or bordering the district are Kangsabati,Kumari,Darakeswar, Subarnarekha due to undulated topography nearly 50% of the rainfall flows away as run off. The district is covered by mostly residual soils formed by weathering of bed rocks. Rupnarayan (Kangsabati/Kansai) river rises as the Dhaleswari (Dhalkisor) in the Chota Nagpur plateau foothills northeast of Purulia town and follows a tortuous southeasterly course past the town of Bankura, where it is known as the Dwarkeswar. It is joined by the Silai near the town of Ghatal, where it takes the name Rupnarayan. The river then joins the Hooghly after completing a 150-mile (240-kilometre) course. The Rupnarayan originally formed a western exit of the Ganges and is important for its irrigation potential. It is tidal through its entire course and constitutes a principal danger to navigation of the Hooghly because it forces that river to deposit silt upon dangerous shoals.