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Area & Location: The District lies in the central part
of the State of Meghalaya and is situated between approximately 25 degrees 10' and 25 degrees 51' N latitude, and between 90 degrees 44' and 91
degrees 49' E longitude. It is bounded on the north-west by Kamrup district
of Assam, on the north-east by Ri Bhoi
district, on the east by East Khasi Hills district, on
the south by Bangladesh, on the west by East Garo and South Garo Hills districts. The
district comprises an area of about 5,247 sq.kms which is 23 percent of the total area
of the state. Nongstoin, covering an area of about 76.00 Sq. Kms, is the Headquarter of
the District.
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Climate : The climate of the district is
mildly tropical in the northern and southern foothills, while in the
central upland zone, the climate is temperate and places at medium
altitude in the northern, western and southern parts of the district,
experience sub-tropical climate.
The district is influenced by
the South- West monsoon and rainfall is assured during summer, but
differs greatly in intensity from area to area within the district. The average rainfall ranges from 1200 mm to 3000 mm per annum. |
History : West Khasi Hills, presently the largest
district of Meghalaya, was carved out
of the erstwhile Khasi Hills District on the 28th
October, 1976. In the same year,
on 10th November, the Mairang
Civil Subdivision was inaugurated, whereas the Mawkyrwat Block was
converted into an Administrative unit. With the upgradation
of Mawkyrwat into a full-fledged Sub-Division
on June 26th 1982, the
District now
comprises of three Sub-Divisions (including the Sadar Sub-Division), one
Administrative Unit viz., Mawshynrut which came into being
on the 9th February,
1996 and 6 (six) C & R D Blocks viz.,
Nongstoin, Mairang, Mawkyrwat, Mawshynrut, Ranikor including
Mawthadraishan Block which
was created vide Govt. Notification
NO.CDD.232/89/Pt/61, dt. 20th March, 2001
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The People : The District comprises of eight Syiemships viz.,
Nongstoin, Nongkhlaw, Maharam, Myriaw, rambrai, Mawiang, Langrin
Nobosophoh, together with
the three Sirdarships of Jyrngam, Riangsih and Nonglang. The Headquarters of each of the
Syiemships and Sirdarships are as indicated below:
Syiemships :
| Sl No |
Name |
Headquarter |
| 1 |
Nongstoin |
Nongstoin |
| 2 |
Nongkhlaw |
Mairang |
| 3 |
Maharam |
Mawkyrwat |
| 4 |
Myriaw |
Nongkasen |
| 5 |
Rambrai |
Rambrai |
| 6 |
Mawiang |
Nongshillong |
| 7 |
Langrin |
Phlangdiloin |
| 8 |
Nobosohphoh |
Rangblang |
Sirdarhips :
| Sl No |
Name |
Headquarter |
| 1 |
Jyrngam |
Tynghor
|
| 2 |
Riangsih |
Myndo |
| 3 |
Nonglang |
Langdongdai |
The
people of the District have their distinct dialects of about 23 in number. Majority of
these dialectical groups, understand Khasi, which is common or link language of the
people. The Khasi are predominant inhabitants of West Khasi Hills District. However, the
populace may be classified as follows.
1) Ki
Nongphlang, are those living in the central up land also called as
Khatsawphra, Mawiang, Maram etc (2) Ki War are those living in the southern
slopes towards the border with Bangladesh. (3) Ki Mailang are those in the
Langrin Syiemship (South-west) (4) Ki Rimen are those living in the Northern
side. (5) Ki Muliang are those in Langpih area and Jyrngam Sirdarship. (6) Ki Nongtrai are those living in areas between the Nongphlang and
Lyngngams (7) Ki Lyngngam are those living in the western part and
in close proximity with east and south Garo Hills. (8) Ki Garo have a
sizeable number in Langrin Syiemship, Nongstoin Syiemship, Maharam Syiemship,
Mawiang Syiemship, Jyrngam Sirdarship and Nonglang Sirdarship There are a
small number of Hajongs in the Maharam, Langrin and Mawiang Syiemships, as
well as about 20 families of the Banai Community in Nongjri village of
Ranikor Block, Nongstoin Syiemship.
POPULATION PROFILE OF WEST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT WITH REFERENCE TO 2001:
| Total
population |
2,94,115
|
| Male
population |
1,49,159
|
| Female
population |
144956
|
| Literacy
rate |
65.64
|
| Male
Literacy |
67.02 |
| Female
Literacy |
64.21
|
| Percentage
decadal variation 1991-2001 |
33.59
|
| Sex
ratio (No. of females per 1000 male) |
972 |
| Density
of population |
56
|
| Rural
population |
2,60,595
|
| Urban
population |
33,520 |
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Flora & Fauna : The district is blessed with a
rich heritage of flora comprising of Khasi pines in the higher
altitude areas and Teak, Sal,Titachap, Gamari and Makri Sal in the lower
reaches. Orchids and
pitcher plants are also found in many pockets. However, with the passage of time, owing to the deforestation
process most of the species have been depleted.
The fauna of the district includes elephants, apes, monkeys, deer, sambar, tigers, wild boars, bears, leopards and many
others. However, due to poaching and deforestation, the number of wild
animals have depleted to a great extent. Currently, elephant depredation is the common occurrence due to
the fact that their original habitat have been disturbed by the haphazard
cutting of trees. Indiscriminate burning of forest and plantation,
impedes, the re-generation process. |
| Mineral Resources :
West Khasi Hills is very
rich in mineral resources, but most of the minerals are under investigation. Important minerals in the district are Sillimanite,
Coal, limestone and Uranium.
(i) Sillimanite: The world's best known deposit of
sillimanite are located in Sonapahar under Mawshynrut Block. It is estimated that Sonapahar contains an approximate reserve of 2,55,000 tonnes
of high grade Sillimanite spread over
a belt of 20x10 kms. This
was being mined by the Bharat Refractories Ltd., but has been stopped
with the expiry of the land lease.
(ii) Coal : The district has good deposits of coal and is being commercially exploited. Coal is found in Shallang area
under Mawshynrut block which is being mined, extracted and exported to
other states through Assam
and also in the international border area around Borsora under Ranikor block which is extracted and exported to
Bangladesh.
(iii) Limestone : Limestone
is found in abundance in the southern part of the district and is being commercially exploited and exported to Bangladesh also.
(iv) Uranium extensive exploratory works has been undertaken at Domiasiat, Nongkulang, Tinniang near
Nonglanglieh and Tynnai and Nonglang (Mawkyrwat) for uranium deposits
which is considered to be of a high- grade quality.
West Khasi Hills district is,
at present, having no hydro electric
project. However, there is good hydro
electric potential from the Khri river and the Kynshi river.
The district is also endowed with vast reserves
of sand and stones. Hill sand and river sand are being commercially used for construction purposes. Stone
quarrying is a means of livelihood for a number of poor families while Granite cutting is a recent trend.
Coal pits at Borsora - (Sources of Wealth & Energy) |
Physiography: The District may be divided
into four broad geographical
units. There is the
Western sector with dense jungles with an elevation of 600 to 900 metres,
bordering the Garo Hills. In
the Southern sector, especially the south-eastern part, the hills slope rather abruptly to an
elevation of about 150 metres, close to the plains of Bangladesh. In the Northern sector, there are a series of hills and ranges which gradually
slope down to an altitude
of about 150 metres till they reach the plains of Assam. In the central sector, the hill ranges run parallel from East to West forming the highest part of the district with an
average altitude of about 1400 metres.
Hill
Ranges :
The only hill range of significance in the district is the Mawthadraishan range which runs from east
to west. Hilly formations,
that have potential tourist attraction are the Kyllang rock, which is formed of a huge igneous rock, located near Nongkhlaw (11 kms) from Mairang . Apart from this, the other major hills are U Mawleng in the
Lyngngam Area located between Nongiawnaw and Snaram and the Mawhiang
rock at Mawkyllei near Pariong. Lum Kyllai-Longsngun at Myriem, 40 Km. from Nongstoin, Lum Iawpaw near Nongnah of Ranikor block, Lum Nongsynrih at Mawkyrwat block
, Lum Iangram , Lum Kubuit, Lum Kubah, Lum Langpoin near Pyndeng
Umjarain - Nongtynniaw and U Lum Kohtyllaw at Nongtnger, are other peaks in the District.
Fish Pond on the Mawthadraishan Range
The Exotic evening view of Mawranglang.
River Systems :There are two important river systems in the district, the Kynshi and
the Khri, with a number of tributaries. Kynshi, the bigger of the two, rises in the southern slopes of Marpna Peak near Mawmaram village (about
10 kms from Mairang on the way to Shillong). It follows a westerly course for a considerable distance then
takes a sharp bend to the east and enters the
plains of Bangladesh at Ranikor. The Khri
river rises near Kyllang rock and flows northwards and is joined by Khri Synnia river
before it enters the plains of Assam. Other important rivers that constitute the drainage system
of the district are the Umngi, Wahblei, Rilang, Riangdo, Tyrsung, Ryndi,
Rwiang, Umit Synthi and Btit.
The meandering path of Umngi River.
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