The ongoing construction work of the Koderma-Hazaribag-Barkakana-Ranchi railway line connecting Hazaribag town with the railway link may be stopped due to the acute shortage of funds.

According to details available, the crisis was created by the Jharkhand government for non-release of the sum promised by it when the project was launched about nine years ago.

The report said due to the delay in completing the project by 2007-'08 as scheduled, the cost of the project escalated to over Rs 2,000 crore and one cannot say when the fund will be provided to complete the pending work by the revised target of March 2010 between Koderma and Pipradih and up to Hazaribag by the end of 2010.

This schedule was given to the commissioner of North Chhotonagpur division, A K Pandey, at a meeting held between the ECR officials and the deputy commissioners of Hazaribag, Koderma, Chatra and Ramgarh districts in the first week of July here.

There, Pandey conveyed the government's decision that full protection would be given to the railway contractors against in the wake of threat from Maoists and others. The government accordingly deployed two battatlions of IRB to maintain vigil at the construction site. Plus, all the SPs of the above-mentioned districts also provided security to the contractors and work was progressing smoothly. The commissioner told reporters later that whatever land was required by the railways for this project has been acquired and possession given to it accordingly.

Now, following the problem of fund shortage, the ECR top brass has apprised government officials in Ranchi of this. As per the agreement between the government and the railway ministry, two-third cost of this project will be provided by the state government and the rest by the Centre and, on that basis, construction work started when Marandi was the chief minister.

Though his government fulfilled the promises, subsequent governments did not release any money, resulting in work slowing down considerably.

However, according to official reports, the government released Rs 5 crore on Thursday and promised to pay another Rs 250 crore after getting it approved by Parliament.

TNN 2 October 2009 / TNN

There is a cure for almost every medical condition. But how do health officials tackle superstitions?

With only 30 per cent of womenfolk living in rural areas turning up for immunisation programmes, state health officials have conceded that superstitions are keeping them away. And that is making it difficult for them to administer treatment or spread awareness among them.

For instance, many expecting mothers are afraid of taking the tetanus toxoid vaccine as they believe that it will lead to abortion or infertility, which can lead to being ostracised from society.

Such beliefs, health workers have found, were prevalent among residents of Sahebganj, Koderma, Gumla, Godda, Garwha and Latehar districts. However, an NGO, USAID, under its programme Vistaar, is working towards improving reproductive and child health in these regions through survival programmes, in association with state departments.

R Choudhary, the team leader associated with the project, agreed that superstitious beliefs were adversely affecting healthcare programmes. "We have been working in the rural healthcare sector for the past six months and so far the results haven't been very encouraging," she rued.

Many tribal women refused to take iron folic acid tablets. "Around 80 per cent of women suffer from anaemia but they refuse to take pills as they feel it would make them weaker," she said.

Immunisation of infants and children was another battle for health officials. "There are limited health services available. Women and children have to suffer due to low literacy rate and lack of decision-making powers. Besides, the infant mortality rate (IMR) is quite high. For example, in Sahebganj it is as high as 147 per 1,000 births," she said.

High death rate is mainly due to low birth weight, lack of basic knowledge among mothers, poverty, and inaccessibility to healthcare facilities and infectious diseases such as malaria and kala-azar.

Besides, nurses and midwives have to fight superstitions too. "We want to improve access to quality maternal and new-born care, improve nutrition and treat infectious diseases," the team leader said.

If only patients could hold on to this belief.

Ranchi, Aug. 5: Telegraph

Hayward Tyler Ltd, a leading manufacturer of pumps and motors for the power and oil and gas industries has won a multi-million pound contract from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) India, the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in India in the energy-related/infrastructure sector, for the supply of 12 off 380kW Glandless Boiler Water Circulation Pumps (BCWP).

The pumps, scheduled for delivery in 2010, will operate within the high pressure part of the boiler system (2 BCP's on continuous duty, one on standby) with a boiler and turbine combination producing 500MW electrical output.

6 BCP's will be installed at a power station in the District of Koderma, which was mostly created in 1994 and also known as the mica capital of India. Another 6 BCP's will be installed at a power station in Durgapur, created in the 1950's and located in the district of Burdwan, in the state West Bengal, India, 168 km to the north of Calcutta, with a population of about 250,000.

Hayward Tyler first developed the Glandless (Sealless) pump motor in the early 1940's, and although there have been many refinements and design improvements since then, HT remains the world's leading supplier and specialist manufacturer of this type of equipment. The pumps are specifically designed to pump high pressure and high temperature water or other fluids (Density) and are renowned for their reliability, running in some cases continuously, for several decades.

Vic Erdilek, Hayward Tyler Power Market Development Manager says: "This contract award represents a great team achievement, giving Hayward Tyler an opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Indian market. A key selection factor for BHEL was the high energy efficiency levels achieved by our Glandless Motor Pumps when benchmarked against our competitors."

Hayward Tyler is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Niche Engineering Group, Southbank UK Plc, a company that invests in sound and profitable engineering companies.

For further information visit website (www.haywardtyler.com)

Koderma is the Mica capital of India. Koderma and Tilaiya (also known as Jhumri Tilaiya) are only two important towns in the district. Koderma is district town of Jharkhand and is well known for rich mica deposits and is also called as "Abharkh Nagari". It is essentially an under-developed, thinly populated district having varied but limited endowment of natural resources.

The district is bounded by 24015'46'' and 240 49'18'' N latitude and   85026'01''and 85054'16'' east longitude and covers an area of about 1500.00 Sq Km.

General Administrative Divisions                                                   

Koderma district has one Sub-division, Kodarma itself and 5 (five) revenue circles. For developmental administration the district is divided into 5 (Five) developmental blocks namely: Koderma, Jainagar, Chandwara, Markachho and Satgawan. There are 717 (Seven Hundred Seventeen) Villages and 80 (Eighty) Panchayats.

Physiography

Koderma district lies in the Chhotanagpur Plateau at 397m above the sea level. The area exhibits undulating topography comprising hills, hillocks, plains and mounds. Northern part of the district is occupied by Koderma Reserve Forest. The highest peak is Debour Ghati (677 metre) which is the state boundary of Jharkhand & Bihar.

Sakri river is the main river in the northern part of the district which flows from south & east to north west. Ghggnna, Chhotanari are the tributaries of Sakri river. Mahua, Banyan, Sakhua, Palas, Pipal, Neem, Khajoor, Bamboo are the flora of the area and Cow, Bull, Buffalo and Goat are fauna. Though Leopard, Bear, Pig, Hiran and Hares are found in the forest area of Koderma Reserve forest.

Climate                                                                                           

The climate of Koderma can be described as a transition between the dry and moderately extreme climate of the northern India and the warm, humid climate of Bengal Basin. The climatic year of Koderma district can be divided into four principal seasons.

The average rainfall in the district is 1090mm yearly

Forests                                                                                            

About 41% part of the Koderma district is covered with forests. The total forest area of Koderma district is 53,841.37 hectare. The per capita forest area in hectare is 0.14. The Koderma forest is rich in Khair, Sakhuwa, Semal, Gamhar, etc. The area of reserved forest in Koderma forest division is 639.68 Sq Km. Presently the reserved forest area of Koderma district is declared as wild life sanctuary.

Minerals

Koderma district is rich in minerals. The Koderma district and the Lokai-Indarwa area cover the southern part of Great Mica-Belt of Jharkhand. Once upon a time Koderma district was famous for its mica production worldwide and the district is known as "Mica City". But gradually excavation of low quality of mica ore and high cost of production results in closure of mica related industry.

 

The coarsed granite rocks are showing chilled contact effect with the adjoining gneisses rocks and shows a faint foliation near the contact. On the other hand the granite & schist are traversed by the dykes, quartz veins and pegmatities. The pegmatite penetrates the schistose & gneissose rocks used as a tools of Mica search on surface. mostly the Mica books are occurring in the pegmatities. The majority of the pegmatite originate through the digestion & re-crystalisation of mica schist. The pegmatite generally consist of plagioclase feldspar, quartz but in few cases it also contain garnet, tourmaline, and beryl.

In Mica belt the granitic rocks constitute about 33% of the total area, some are Dome-shaped and lie in the surrounding area of the belt. Where as the metamorphic rocks constitute about 67% of total Mica belt.    

Structure                                                                                       

The Mica belt consists of Igneous and Metamorphic rocks. The are is structurally disturbed with antiform and synform with a number of cross folods dissecting the rocks. The main structural trends in the mica belt are controlled by the folding in the meta-sedimentary rocks of the area. Generally the fold axis strikes ESE to WNW but at some places it changes from NNE to SSW. The lineation due to elongation of minerals is commonly found in the granite genesis and mica schist, with a dip varies from 30 to 40 towards ENE.

The foliation of the schistose rock strikes about ENE to WSW with a dip varies from 30 to 60 in northerly or southerly direction depnding upon the folded nature of the schist. Many numerous slip planes traverse the schistose rocks which are parallel to sub-parallel to the axis of fold causing foliation in the schist.

Some small fault marked in the area by silcification, brecciation. In the area three to five sets joints are also noted in the intrusive granite.

Mineral Occurances in Pegmatites                                                

The Koderma area is known for the GMB where the most of the mineral are deposited in the pegmatite veins which are controlled either by lithology or by structure. In major cases the pegmatities are generally confined to Mica schist due to its easy penetrable tendency, it appears to be more amenable to development of structural locales. the inclusion and recrystallisation bands of Mica schist helps to develop pegmatite. It is also noted that the Mica shoots are within the hanging wall and footwall zones at the contact of quartz core.

It also found in slip or fracture planes, showing wavy contact with schist observed in Khalaktambi mines west of the Bandarchua mines, located in the densely forest area of Koderma.

It has been observed that the grain size of phegmatite decrease towards the boarder and increases in the center where the Mica books are located more commonly towards the side of the vein than in the center. The Mica pegmatites veins ranges from a fraction of centimeter to over 10 metres quartz veins are invariably noted as a core in the thicker pegmatite veins.

Felspar of different varieties are also associated with the pegmatites. Feldspar and Mica are seen arranged on either side of the quartz core.So, pegmatite is generally consists of plagioclase feldspar and quartz but they also contains microcline,biotite, tourmaline, garnet, apatite and beryl.

Minerals of Koderma Areagmatites                                               

(I) Mica is important strategic mineral and due to its excellent insulating properties and high heat-resistance capacity it is used in the electricity industries. It is used in paint industries as well as in the medicine.

The world famous quality Ruby Mica produced in India out of which the maximum production of Mica comes from Koderma Mica belt. The Mica belt covers the maximum area of Koderma district but the productive zone covers an area of 12 sq. km lies in the Koderma Reserve forest. The Mica belt is fringed along the northern margin of Chhotanagpur plateau. It is an integrated part of precambrian, Satpura / Singhbhum orogeny and extends roughly ENE-WSW.

Some important Mica mines in an around Koderma are Bandarchua, Suggi, Pesra-Uparchala, Khalaktambi, Dhab, Dhanapahari, Guthwa, Domchach, Kushana, Dashro, Dumerdiha, Katiya, Arwatanr and Jalahia etc.                       

TOURISTS SPOTS -

Tilaiya Dam

It is the first Dam and hydro -Electric power station constructed by Damodar Valley Corporation across Barakar River, in Koderma district. The dam is 1200 ft long and 99 ft high situated in an ideal surrounding with a beautiful reservoir in 36 sq km area.

Built with the main object of controlling floods, the hydro -electric station produces 4MW. The beautiful natural surroundings are the attraction to tourists. The main road from Barhi on G.T.road through reservoir and the hillocks is picturesque

PRIME SITES –

• Hydro-Electric Power House.
• Terrace Gardens on the hillock Deer Park.
• Picnic Island with swimming corner approachable by motor boats.

Makamaro Hills                                                                                            

The Makamaro hill near Dhab also has some religious relevance. It is believed that Parsuram had killed his mother and three brothers here on instruction of his father.

Shaktipeeth Maa Chanchala Devi                                                   

Situated in the Koderma-Giridih highway around 33 kms from the district headquarters. Maa chanchala devi temple is situated about 400 ft above the hilland is one of the form of goddess Durga. Nearby hill there is a big cave having rock paintings of four forms of goddess Durga. Entering into the cave is difficult as the passage is very narrow. A large number of devotees reached here on Tuesday and Saturday in a week. The use of Sindur (vermillion) is prohibited. A large number of marriages are solemnized here.

How to reach Koderma –

Air: The nearest airport is at Ranchi.

Rail: Nearest railway station is Koderma on Grand Chord line of the Eastern Railway.

The distance from koderma Railway Station is 19 Kms. All sorts of vehicles ply between Koderma and Hazaribagh through Tilaya Dam        

Road: It falls on Patna - Ranchi Road. It is 17 kms. from Barhi and 47 kms. from Hazaribag.

D.V.C Rest House, Tourist Bungalow run by D.V.C 

Urwan Tourist Complex                                                                  

Few kilometres from the Tilaiya dam is Jharkhand State tourism Development's Tourist Complex at 'Urwan', where one can consider spending time by the side of the dam, where one can enjoy boating and other water sports. Interested tourists can follow the main road and drive to Hari Har Dham at Bagodar which is famous for the 52 feet high Shiv Ling which took 30 years to complete and is believed to be the tallest in the world.