Lower Dibang Valley district

The Lower Dibang Valley district (/dɪˈbæŋ/ dib-ANG) is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. It is the tenth least populous district in the country, and the least densely populated district.[2]

Lower Dibang Valley district
View of the Dibang River from Bara Golai north of Roing
View of the Dibang River from Bara Golai north of Roing
Map
Lower Dibang Valley district
Location in Arunachal Pradesh
Country India
StateArunachal Pradesh
HeadquartersRoing
Area
 • Total
3,900 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
54,080
 • Density14/km2 (36/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy70.4%[1]
 • Sex ratio919[1]
Time zoneUTC 05:30 (IST)
Websiteroing.nic.in

History

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Snow capped mountain

In June 1980, the Dibang Valley district was created from part of the Lohit district.[3] On 16 December 2001, the Dibang Valley district was bifurcated into Dibang Valley district and Lower Dibang Valley district.[3]

Geography and timeline

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The headquarters of the district is the town of Roing. Before it was carved out of the district on 16 December 2001, Anini housed the district headquarters.[4]

Transport

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The proposed 2,000-kilometre-long (1,200 mi) Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway goes along the McMahon Line,[5][6][7][8] and will pass through the Lower Dibang Valley district. An alignment map can be seen here and here.[9] It will intersect with the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor Highway.

Divisions

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There are two Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly constituencies located in this district: Dambuk and Roing. Both are part of the Arunachal East Lok Sabha constituency.[10]

Demographics

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According to the 2011 census, the Lower Dibang Valley district has a population of 54,080,[1] roughly equal to the island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.[11] This makes it the 630th least populous district in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 14 inhabitants per square kilometre (36/sq mi), lowest in the country.[1] Its rate of population growth rate from 2001–2011 was 7.01%.[1] The Lower Dibang Valley has a sex ratio of 919 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 70.38%. Scheduled Tribes make up 48.03% of the population.[1]

Religion

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Religion in Lower Dibang Valley district (2011)[12]
Religion Per cent
Hinduism
53.47%
Tribal religion
19.22%
Christianity
17.04%
Buddhism
5.42%
Islam
4.15%
Other or not stated
0.70%

Languages

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Major languages spoken include Idu Mishmi and Adi. Hindi has been taught in schools since the 1970s. Most of the citizens understand and speak Hindi. In other various areas, different languages are spoken, such as Nepali and Assamese. English is also spoken by educated citizens.

At the time of the 2011 census, 24.29% of the population spoke Nepali, 23.03% Adi, 15.15% Mishmi, 7.04% Bengali, 7.02% Mishing, 4.54% Bhojpuri, 3.75% Assamese, 2.83% Hindi and 2.23% Galo as their first language.[13]

Flora and fauna

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The district is rich in wildlife. Rare mammals such as Mishmi takin, red goral, elephants, wild water buffalos and leaf muntjac live in the district. Birds that live in the Lower Dibang Valley include Sclater's monal, Blyth's tragopan, the rufous-necked hornbill, the Bengal florican, and the white-winged wood duck.[14] Mishmi Hills giant flying squirrels (Petaurista mishmiensis) also live in this district.[15]

In 1980, the Lower Dibang Valley district became home to the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 282 km2 (108.9 sq mi).[16] A new subspecies of hoolock gibbon has been discovered in this area, which was named the Mishmi Hills hoolock. H. h. mishmiensis.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  2. ^ "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b Law, Gwillim (25 September 2001). "Districts of India". Statoids. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  4. ^ "Official Website of the Lower Dibang Valley District". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  5. ^ Dipak Kumar Dash. "Top officials to meet to expedite road building along China border". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Narendra Modi government to provide funds for restoration of damaged highways". www.dnaindia.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Indian Government Plans Highway Along Disputed China Border". Ankit Panda. thediplomat.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Govt planning road along McMohan line in Arunachal Pradesh: Kiren Rijiju". Live Mint. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  9. ^ "China warns India against paving road in Arunachal". Ajay Banerjee. tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Assembly Constituencies allocation w.r.t District and Parliamentary Constituencies". Chief Electoral Officer, Arunachal Pradesh website. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  11. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Saint Kitts and Nevis 50,314 July 2011 est.
  12. ^ "2011 Religion Census". Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  13. ^ 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue
  14. ^ Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2008) Survey of mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang biosphere reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. Final report to Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Rhino Foundation for nature in NE India, Guwahati, India. 70pp.
  15. ^ , Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2009).One more new flying squirrel of the genus Petaurista Link, 1795 from Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. The Newsletter and Journal of the RhinoFoundation for nat. in NE India 8: 26–34, plates.
  16. ^ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Arunachal Pradesh". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  17. ^ .A. U. Choudhury (2013). Description of a new subspecies of hoolock gibbonHoolock hoolock from North East India. The Newsletter & Journal of the Rhino Foundation for nat. in NE India 9: 49–59.
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28°08′40″N 95°50′30″E / 28.144545°N 95.841722°E / 28.144545; 95.841722