Kutch: A Brief Overview

Geography of the region:
Covering an area of 45, 612 sq. km., Kutch lies in the state of Gujarat, on the West Coast of India. Topographically, Kutch is divided into 5 distinct regions: (i) The Great Rann, or uninhabited wasteland in the north, (ii) The Grasslands of Banni, (iii) Mainland, consisting of planes, hills and dry river beds, (iv) The Coastline along the Arabian Sea in the south, and (v) Creeks and mangroves in the west. More loosely, the southern portion of the Rann is considered an island, with seawater inundating the land for most of the year. The mainland is generally plane, but has some hill ranges and isolated hills.

Demographic distribution:
Kutch has approximately 950 villages inhabited by a diverse population. Hindus constitute 89% of the population, followed by Muslims who form 9% and Jains who make up 1% of the total population. The region is sparsely populated in comparison to the large area of land, but the settlements are fairly densely populated.

Seismic History:
The earliest earthquake recorded in Kutch dates back to 16th June 1819. Since then, over 90 earthquakes of varying intensity have struck the region, but none as severe as the most recent one.

Climate:
Kutch has a tropical monsoon climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 14 inches. The temperature ranges from 2 degrees Celsius in the winter to 45 degrees Celsius in the summer. The three main seasons are: (i) Summer, from February to June, (ii) Monsoon season, from July to September, and (iii) Winter, from October to January.

Also read about:

Rehabilitation and reconstruction

Bhadli Village: Rehabilitation Plans

Facilities that require repair and upgradation

Proposed Plan for the Rehabilitation of Bhadli Village

The Village in Pieces - A visual presentation

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