A beautiful place on Mother Nature's lap, located in the north-east corner of the Indian State of Assam, the district of Lakhimpur lies on north bank of the mighty river Brahmaputra. It is bounded on the north by Siang and Papumpare District of the state of Arunachal Pradesh and on the east by Dhemaji District. Majuli, the largest River-island belonging to Jorhat District is on the south and Gohpur sub division of Sonitpur District is on the West. The Brahmaputra is navigable for steamers in all seasons as far as Dibrugarh, in the rainy season as far as Sadiya; its navigable tributaries within the district are the Subansiri, Ranganadi and Dikrong. The exact location of the district is 26.48’ and 27.53’ northern latitude and 93.42’ and 94.20' east longitude (approx.).
The name 'Lakhimpur' is believed to have come from word “Lakshmi”, the Hindu goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. The word “pur” has two meanings -- first one is “full”, so 'Lakhimpur' means 'full of paddy'. The second meaning is "City", so 'Lakhimpur' means 'The City of Wealth and Prosperity'. Besides, the district has alluvial soil which is very fertile. Also fish, vegetables, milk etc were abundant.
The district has two sub divisions -- Dhakuakhana and North Lakhimpur. Dhakuakhana Sub Division consists of two Police stations viz. Dhakuakhana and Ghilamara. North Lakhimpur Sub-division consists of 4 Police stations viz. North Lakhimpur, Boginadi, Laluk and Bihpuria. Numerous tribes too inhabit the areas. The most important of these tribes are the Miris, Abors, Mishmis, Khamtis, Kachins and Nagas.
Forests are mainly tropical rain forest. Important reserved forests includes Ranga Reserve, Kakoi Reserve, Dulung Reserve and Pava Reserve. Some varieties are Xollokh (Terminalia myriocarpa), Ajhar (lagerstroemia speciosa), Ximolu (Bombax ceiba or Salmalia malabarica), Sum (Machilus), Gomari (Gmelina arborea), Sisu (Dalbergia sissoo), Xilikha (Terminalia chebula), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Nahar (Mesua ferrea) etc. Wild elephants, buffaloes, tigers, deer etc are there in the forests. Varieties of bird species are observed in swampy areas.
The great Subansiri river has legends of once famous gold washing. But as of now there is no any major exploration of minerals in the district, except some minor exploration for petroleum by ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) near Dhakuakhana.
2) HISTORY :
Lakhimpur figures largely in the annals of Assam as the region where successive invaders from the east first reached the Brahmaputra. The Baro Bhuyans, originally from the western provinces of India, were driven out by the Chutiya (a Shan race), and these in their turn gave place to their more powerful brethren, the Ahoms in the 13th century. The Burmese, who had ruined the native kingdoms, at the end of the 18th century, were in 1826 expelled by the British under the Treaty of Yandaboo. They placed the southern part of the state, together with Sibsagar under the rule of Raja Purandhar Singh; but it was not till 1838 that the whole was taken under direct British administration.
3) POPULATION :
Population 2001
Decadal growth rate
Sex Ratio
Density
Persons
Males
Females
1981-1991
1991-2001
1991
2001
1991
2001
889,325
455,689
433,636
NA
18.34
931
952
330
391
4) LITERACY :
Literacy
Literacy 1991 (%)
Literacy 2001(%)
Persons
Male
Female
Persons
Male
Female
Persons
Male
Female
517,607
298,539
219,068
58.96
68.28
48.85
69.59
78.26
60.47
5) FOREST :
Forests of the district are mainly tropical rain forest. The important reserved forests of the district are Ranga Reserve, Kakoi Reserve, Dulung Reserve and Pava Reserve . The varieties of tree species grown in the forest area are Hollock (Terminalia Myriocarpa) , Urium (Bichotia Jauvanica), Nahar (Mesua Ferrea), Ajhar (lagerstroemia speciosa), Simul (Bombax ceiba/Salmalia Malabarica), Sum (Machilus), Sualu , Gomari (gmelina orborea), Sissoo (Dalbergia Sissoo), Jutuli (Altingia excelsa), Silikha (Terminalia Chebula), Neem (Azadirachta Indica), Sopa (Magnolia) etc.
6) THE RIVER SYSTEM AND FLOOD :
1. The Brahmaputra :- The mighty river Brahmaputra is the southern boundary of the district and it touches all along the southern and southeastern boundary.
2. The Subansiri : The river Subansiri is originated from Tibet and enters the plains of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district. The total length of the river is 326 miles up to the international boarder. The catchments area of the river is 10,148 Sqmiles in Arunachal Pradesh and 440 SqMiles in Assam. The river discharges 2,09,546 Cusecs of water at Bhimpara Ghat.
3. The Ranganadi : The river originates from the Dafla hills of Arunachal Pradesh. The total length of the river is 90 miles and total catchments area is 839 Sqmiles in Arunachal Pradesh and 296 Sqmiles in Assam. It discharges 17,500 cusecs of water at 2 miles up stream of National Highway –52
4. The Dikrong : The Dikrong originates from the Dafla Hills of Arunachal Pradesh. In Arunachal Pradesh, it is known as Par Nadi. It enters the plains near Harmutty Tea Estate and runs 25 miles to join the Brahmaputra at Badati. It discharges 20,000 cusecs of water at 1 mile down stream of National Highway-52. The catchments area of the river is 512 Sqmiles in Arunachal Pradesh and 101 Sqmiles in Assam. The causes of flood in Lakhimpur District are due to excessive rainfalls in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, melting of snow at Tibet and bursting of dams, which are formed by the landslides at the rivers flowing from Arunachal Pradesh. During flood the rivers get charged with enormous quantity of silt and in their movement the rivers alter the conditions of flow and sometimes changes the river course causing untold miseries to the people living in its low-lying basin.
7) MINERAL :
There is no major exploration of minerals in this district. The great Subansiri river was once famous for gold washing.
8) FAUNA :
With the increase of human population and large-scale deforestation of existing forest, the wild animal of various species are dwindling due to loss of habitat etc. Presently wild elephants, buffaloes, tigers, deer, hyenas are seen in the forest area. Varieties of bird species are available in swampy areas.
9) ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP :
Lakhimpur district with its headquarters at North Lakhimpur and the sub divisional headquarters at Dhakuakhana includes the following Revenue circles : Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana, Kadam, Nauboicha, Bihpuria, Narayanpur and Subansiri ( Ghilamara) and there are 9 Nos. of Blocks viz. Narayanpur, Bihpuria, Karunabari , Nowboicha, Telahi, Lakhimpur , Boginadi, Ghilamara and Dhakuakhana.
STATISTICS
District Area
2277 Sqkm
Village Area
2257 Sqkm
Town Area
20 SqKm
No of Zila Parishad
1
Nos. of Anchalik Panchayat
9
No. of Gaon Panchayat
81
No of Sub division
2
No. of Revenue Circles
7
Total No. of Villages (Inhabited)
1185
No. of Police Station
6
No. of Fire Service Station
2
Total Population
889,325
Male population
455,689
Female Population
433,636
S.C. Population
72035( 8.1%)
S.T. Population
209880(23.6%)
No. of Civil Hospital
1(200beds)
T.B. Hospital
1(10 beds)
No. of Towns
3
Sub divisions & Police Stations :
The district is divided into two sub divisions viz. North Lakhimpur and Dhakuakhana. North Lakhimpur Sub-division consists of 4 Police stations viz. North Lakhimpur, Boginadi, Laluk and Bihpuria,. Dhakuakhana Sub Division consists of two Police stations viz. Dhakuakhana and Ghilamara.
