301
surrounded by scrublands. The scrubland in the south is situated in the northern side
of the River Ajay. As the river flow with small amount of water throughout the year,
the area suffers from a huge water shortage. According to the District Census
Handbook, 2001, there is no such land irrigated by river water, and only 6.1 ha area
of agricultural land is irrigated by the tank irrigation. Therefore, most of the areas
are left uncultivated for year after year, and recently these have transformed into
scrubland covered by large bushes of Kash and Byanaban. In the southern side,
there exists an abandoned mining area with large open pits, and ditches, dumps of
stones, boulders, debris and other spoils have converted the land into wasteland.
17.7.3 Type 3: Barren Rocky/Stony Waste – Bansayer Village
The area is extremely dissected plateau of Santhal Parganas projecting south and
south-west ward. In the middle, the highlands of hard impervious crystalline rocks
are projected. The undulating land is separated by moderately wide valleys forming
ridge and furrow topography. The main seasonal drainage channel gone through the
sample site from west to eastward is named Mara Jhor. The surface elevation of the
area ranges from 100 to 120 m.
Poor soil characteristics, deficiency of surface and sub-surface water and undulating nature of topography are largely responsible for the formation of wastelands.
Their profound impact is truly reflected by the presence of scrubland, without scrub
areas and barren rocky areas. Total coverage of these three major types of wastelands is 113.55 ha, i.e. 31.94% (Table 17.6).
The scrubland covers 47.53 ha, i.e. 13.37% of TGA, and is situated in the southern part of the sample site. Throughout the year, the area suffers from water deficiency. Grasses and herbs like ankura (Alangium salvifolium), sial kanta (Argemone
mexicana), kunch (Abrus precatorius) and dhutura (Datura metel) mostly cover the
areas apart from the low-lying valleys where the inhabitants with great effort try to
cultivate in kharif season, while the rest of the year, these areas remain fallow.
The village has an area of 44.51 ha (12.52) which is under undulating land without scrub coverage with three different patches in the northern part. These areas
remain vacant throughout the year and used as grazing land especially in
Table 17.6 Distribution of wastelands in Bansayer village
Wasteland category
Area in hectares Percentage to TGA Percentage to total wasteland
Upland without scrub
44.51
12.52
39.19
Upland with scrub
47.53
13.37
41.87
Barren rocky/stony wastes 21.51
6.05
18.94
Total
113.55
31.94
100
Source: Calculated from land use map published in Focus on Birbhum District, 2007, and LISS III
Satellite Image, 19th February 2012
17 Management of Wastelands in Chotanagpur Plateau Fringe: Lessons…
surrounded by scrublands. The scrubland in the south is situated in the northern side
of the River Ajay. As the river flow with small amount of water throughout the year,
the area suffers from a huge water shortage. According to the District Census
Handbook, 2001, there is no such land irrigated by river water, and only 6.1 ha area
of agricultural land is irrigated by the tank irrigation. Therefore, most of the areas
are left uncultivated for year after year, and recently these have transformed into
scrubland covered by large bushes of Kash and Byanaban. In the southern side,
there exists an abandoned mining area with large open pits, and ditches, dumps of
stones, boulders, debris and other spoils have converted the land into wasteland.
17.7.3 Type 3: Barren Rocky/Stony Waste – Bansayer Village
The area is extremely dissected plateau of Santhal Parganas projecting south and
south-west ward. In the middle, the highlands of hard impervious crystalline rocks
are projected. The undulating land is separated by moderately wide valleys forming
ridge and furrow topography. The main seasonal drainage channel gone through the
sample site from west to eastward is named Mara Jhor. The surface elevation of the
area ranges from 100 to 120 m.
Poor soil characteristics, deficiency of surface and sub-surface water and undulating nature of topography are largely responsible for the formation of wastelands.
Their profound impact is truly reflected by the presence of scrubland, without scrub
areas and barren rocky areas. Total coverage of these three major types of wastelands is 113.55 ha, i.e. 31.94% (Table 17.6).
The scrubland covers 47.53 ha, i.e. 13.37% of TGA, and is situated in the southern part of the sample site. Throughout the year, the area suffers from water deficiency. Grasses and herbs like ankura (Alangium salvifolium), sial kanta (Argemone
mexicana), kunch (Abrus precatorius) and dhutura (Datura metel) mostly cover the
areas apart from the low-lying valleys where the inhabitants with great effort try to
cultivate in kharif season, while the rest of the year, these areas remain fallow.
The village has an area of 44.51 ha (12.52) which is under undulating land without scrub coverage with three different patches in the northern part. These areas
remain vacant throughout the year and used as grazing land especially in
Table 17.6 Distribution of wastelands in Bansayer village
Wasteland category
Area in hectares Percentage to TGA Percentage to total wasteland
Upland without scrub
44.51
12.52
39.19
Upland with scrub
47.53
13.37
41.87
Barren rocky/stony wastes 21.51
6.05
18.94
Total
113.55
31.94
100
Source: Calculated from land use map published in Focus on Birbhum District, 2007, and LISS III
Satellite Image, 19th February 2012
17 Management of Wastelands in Chotanagpur Plateau Fringe: Lessons…