Itahar

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Itahar | type = city | latd = 25.3 | longd = 88.1
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Uttar Dinajpur
leader_title = MLA
leader_name = Srikumar Mukherjee
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total =249500| population_density =
area_magnitude=
area_total = 362.82
area_telephone = 91 3523
postal_code = 733128
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =uttardinajpur.nic.in/
footnotes = CD Block

Itahar ( _bn. ইটাহার) is a community development block, police station and assembly constituency in Uttar Dinajpur district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is about 22 km from Raiganj. National Highway 34 passes through Itahar. Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary is a place of tourist interest nearby. [cite web | url =http://www.india9.com/i9show/Itahar-66456.htm | title = Itahar | accessdate = 2008-02-02 | last = | first = | work = | publisher =india9.com ] The area has recorded high decadal population growth during the period 1991-2001, and is prone to floods every year.

Geography

Floods in Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpr districts of West Bengal are a regular feature. They destroy the economy, life and property of the people including agricultural crop. A comprehensive plan document or Master Plan has been drawn up but floods continue to plague the region. Mahananda and Sui rivers destroy Itahar every year. [cite web | url = http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls13/ses1/20281099.htm | title = XIII Lok Sabha debates| accessdate = 2008-02-05 | last = | first = | work = Session I Thursday, October 28, 1999/Kartika 6, 1921 (Saka) | publisher = Parliament of India ]

Demographics

In the 2001 census, Itahar community development bloc had a total population of 249,500, of which 127,332 were males and 122,168 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991-2001 was 26.58%, against 28.72% in Uttar Dinajpur district. [cite web | url = http://www.wbcensus.gov.in/DataTables/02/Table4_4.htm | title = Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, Uttar Dinajpur District | accessdate = 2008-02-02 | last = | first = | work = Census of India 2001 | publisher = Census Commission of India] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%. [cite web | url = http://www.wbcensus.gov.in/DataTables/02/FrameTable4_1.htm | title = Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4 | accessdate = 2008-02-05 | last = | first = | work =Census of India 2001 | publisher = Census Commission of India ]

Administration

Itahar is an intermediate panchayat in Uttar Dinajpur district, with Chhayghara, Durgapur, Durlovpur, Gulandar, Joyhat, Kapasia, Marnai, Patirajpur and Surun village panchayats under it. [cite web | url = http://offerings.nic.in/directory/adminreps/viewpansum.asp?selstate=19&pno=31&ptype=V | title = Village Panchayats of West Bengal | accessdate = 2008-02-02 | last = | first = | work = Dinajpur Uttar | publisher = National Panchayat Directory,Panchayat Informatics Division,NIC ]

Transport

The Gazole-Itahar rail track, off the recently constructed Eklakhi-Balurghat line, is phase 1 of the Gazole-Raiganj rail link. [cite web | url = http://www.nfrlyconstruction.org/test/generalinfo_eng.asp | title = Projects commissioned up to 30.11.2007 | accessdate = 2008-02-02 | last = | first = | work = Construction | publisher = North-Eastern Frontier Railway ] [cite web | url = http://exim.indiamart.com/budget-2001-02/rail-budget-2001/doubling.html | title = Rail Budget 2001-2002| accessdate = 2008-02-05 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = indiamart ] The Balurghat-Eklakhi railway line was taken up in 1983-84. [cite web | url = http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/rapr2003/10042003/r100420033.html
title = Balurghat-Eklakhi Railway Line| accessdate = 2008-02-05 | last = | first = | work = Press Release, 10 April 2003| publisher = Press Information Bureau ]

A bridge on the Mahananda connecting Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur with Chanchal in Malda district has been under construction since 1999. The main portion of the bridge was built in 2004 but subsequent work has remained suspended. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=10&id=203178&usrsess=1| title = Bridge construction hangs in balance | accessdate = 2008-02-05 | last = | first = | work = North Bengal and Sikkim Plus | publisher = "The Statesman", 9 November 2007 ]

Politics

In the 2006, 2001 and 1996 elections to the state assembly, Srikumar Mukherjee of CPI won the Itahar seat, defeating Zainal Abedin of
INC / NCP. In 1991, Zainal Abedin defeated Swadesh Chaki of CPI. In 1987, Swadesh Chaki of CPI defeated Zainal Abedin of INC. Zainal Abedin of ICS/ INC defeated Basanta Lal Chatterjee of CPI in 1982 and Salil Kumar Guha of CPI(M) in 1977. [cite web | url = http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp34.htm| title = 34 - Itahar Assembly Constituency | accessdate = 2008-02-02 | last = | first = | work = Partywise Comparison since 1977 | publisher = Election Commission of India ]

Itahar is part of Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web | url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf | title = General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies | accessdate = 2007-09-19 | last = | first = | work = West Bengal | publisher = Election Commission of India]

Health

With the 2008 bird flu outbreak in West Bengal, [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-01-18&usrsess=1&clid=1&id=213243 | title = Bird flu spreads | accessdate = 2008-02-05 | last = | first = | work = North Bengal and Sikkim Plus | publisher = "The Statesman", 18 January 2008 ] 16,000 birds were destroyed in Gualadar and Surun gram panchayats under Itahar police station, but some villagers refused to kill their birds and health workers had to retreat from such villages. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=10&id=214948&usrsess=1 | title = 16,000 birds culled in | accessdate = 2008-02-05 | last = | first = | work = North Bengal and Sikkim Plus | publisher = "The Statesman", 31 January 2008 ]

References