Report on Minor Irrigation Works in Bihar State

Abstract

Bihar has an area of 67.196 square miles, traversed by the Ganga from West to East. It is bound on the north by Nepal, on north-east and east by West Bengal, on the west by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and on the south by Orissa. Natural Divisions.—Bihar can be classified into three natural regions, namely the plains of North Bihar, area south of Ganga river and the plateau of Chotanagpur. Amongst them the seventeen districts of the State have been grouped as below:— North Bihar: Champaran. Saran. Muzaffarpur. Darbhanga. Saharsa. Purnca, North Monghyr and North Bhagalpur. South Bihar: Shahabad. Patna. Gaya. South Monghyr. South Bhagalpur. Chotanagpur: Palamau. Hazaribagh. Santhal Parganas. Ranchi. Dhanbad and Singhbhum. A map of the State showing the district boundaries and the three regions is at Figure l .l. These three regions form distinct natural physical units; while the plains have poor slopes, hills, mountains and forests abound the plateau region, with altitudes ranging from 1.000 to 4.000 feel. Map at Figure 1.2 shows the physiography of the State.