TRENDS OF URBAN GROWTH AND URBANIZATION IN FAR-WESTERN TERAI OF NEPAL

Abstract

The present study is concerned to the trends of urban growth and urbanization in Far-Western Terai of Nepal. The study area of Far-WesternTerai presents varieties of socio-cultural, economic and demographic scenario due to urban growth and urbanization. Mainly the situation of urban growth in Terai area is different from the other part of the country. According to the nature and situation of urbanization in the study area, the research is mainly focused on urban population growth, urban facilities, urban-rural differences, urban land use and morphology and general scenario of urban environment of Far-WesternTerai. This region is the most important trading, food production and educational centre of the Far-Western Development Region. Eradication of malaria from the region was followed by rapid change in the size of population, socio-economic development, political and administrative activities in Far-Western Terai. With the construction of East-West highway (Mahindra Highway), Terai area developed rapidly. Due to the development of different activities, the Terai has become a common destination for migration from the hills and mountains in Nepal. So, Terai region has thus experienced rapid urban expansion during the recent period. Therefore, the study area is become emerging region of urbanization in Nepal. No any study has been conducted so far on the urbanization situation of Far-Western Terai of Nepal. Thus, there is a need to study about the urbanization and related issues of this area. The research work is mainly based on primary and secondary data. The study area i.e. Far-Western Terai is located in the southern part of FWDR of Nepal. This development region constitutes two zones and nine districts. Among the nine districts, seven lies in hill and mountain region and two in the Terai region of Far Western Development Region. Administratively, the whole Far-Western Terai area comprises of two districts, three Municipalities (Bhimdatt, Dangadi and Tikapur), seven constituencies and 61 VDCs. The study area extend from 28º32' North to 29º28' North latitude and 80º03' East to 81º18' East longitude. The total area of the study area is 4835 sq. k.m. which occupies 24.74% of the total area of FWDR. Far-Western Terai gently slopes towards the south with the altitude variation from 109 meters to 1950 meter above sea level. Topographically, this area is plain area which lies in south at the foot hills of mountain range of Far-Western Development Region. The study area is also rich in the river network system. TheKarnali, the Mahakali, and the Mohana are the major rivers and the Kutiya, Pathariya, Kanara, Gulara, Sajgadh and other several small and seasonal rivers flow in the Far-Western Terai.The climate of the study area is tropical in nature with monsoon. The maximum temperature is observed in the month of May and minimum temperature in the month of January. Also the highest average rainfall month is July and the lowest rainfall month is November. So November is the dry month, January is coldest month, July is the heavy rainfall month and May is the hot month in the study area. The land of Terai is very fertile for agriculture. The soil types of Far-Western Terai can be classified in the three categories due to such geo-structures. The rocks found in the Churia area, gravel, sandy loamy, boulder and cobbles are found in Bhabar area and sandy loamy soil is found in southern plain terai.Far-Western Terai which is also extended part of Indo-Gangetic plain has hot and wet summer. So in this place mostly the hard wood evergreen forests are available in the study area. Tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forest is found in the Terai, Bhabar and Churai (Siwalik) areas.The major land use of the study area is if different categories. Out of the total area of FWT, 57.66% covered by forest, 32.69% by agricultural land, 2.33% by grass land, 2.14% by shrub and 4.11% by other uses (rivers, pounds, roads, sand and settlements etc.) Demographically Far-Western Terai has a total population of 1226957, according to 2011 census report with a male population of 594459 and female population of 632498, sex ratio has 92.99 and average household size has 5.46 persons per family. The population size of this area has been increasing rapidly over the time. It was only 235189 in 1952/54 that become 1226957 in 2011. Not only the size of population but also the population density has also drastically increased. The spatial pattern of population distribution in the study area differs from place to place. Far-Western Terai is the land of cultural and ethnic diversity. The migrants in this area represent almost all districts of Nepal. So, this area is the place of multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi ethnic area of Nepal but the Hindu are dominant group sharing 99.39% of the total population of this area. The population following other religions is very low. To consider ethnicity, Tharu ethnic group has highest population than other ethnic groups. There are 35.69% Tharu, 23.99% Chhetri, 13.71% Bhraman, 4.56% Thakuri, 4.29% Dalit and 13.45% other ethnic groups. The Tharu ethnic groups are indigenous people of this area. There are two types of the Tharu one is DangauraTharu, who came from Dang valley of Nepal and other ethnic group of Tharu is Rana, who were comes from the Thar desert of India.The people of Far-Western Terai celebrate a number of festivals. The main festivals of the Tharu communityare Maghi, Holi, Aitbari, Charaiand Tihar. Dashain, Tihar, Gaura, Holi, Shivaratri, Krishna Janmaastamietc festivals are the Chhetri, the Brahman, the Thakuri and other ethnic groups of this area.