Introduction-
Jalgaon district is famous for it’s Banana plantation located in Northern West part of Maharashtra state & previously known as East Khandesh. The total geographical area of district is 11765 sq km (9 th in State) that include 1513 villages, 15 Taluka and Jalgaon city as a district head quarter. The total population of district is 3682690 souls. Out of which 80 % is rural and 20 % urban population.
Jalgaon district is located 20 0 15 ? to 21 022 ? North latitude and 75 0 51 ? to 76 028′ East longitude.
Geography-
Jalgaon district is a part of Deccan platue and having Satpuda Hill ranges in Norhern part, Ajantha hill ranges in South part .The elevation range is from 175 m to 325 m a msl. Tapi River, which flows in western direction, is the main river of the district. Girna, Waghur, Bori, Anjani, Mor, Titur, Suki are the sub river of Tapi river.
Geology-
Jalgaon district comprises of two type of geological formation i.e. Basalt lava flows gently sloping and termed as Deccan trap formation and Tapi alluvium.
a) Deccan trap formation-near about sixty-percentage area covers mostly Southern and Northern portion of district. Deccan trap consist of basaltic lava flows of variable thickness with massive vesicular and amygdaloidal basalt.
a) Tapi alluvium- Tapi alluvial formation occurs in central area of district. Tapi alluvium deposit is formed due to simultaneous land subsidence and deposition phenomenon cause during passive faulting. Tapi alluvium comprises over 306 m thick alluvial deposit filling faulted through of Tapi rift valley, occurs 250 km long 55 km wide in Dhule and Jalgaon district. Alluvium comprises of alternating bed of pebbles cobbles graves sand of various size mixed with silt.
Hydrogeology –
District is divided in 66 elementary watersheds by GSDA. Geology plays major important role in occurrence of groundwater. The alluvial formation occurs mostly in central part along Tapi river having silt admixed with sand of various size gravels pebbles boulder is main aquifer and well depth range is 35 to 50 m bellow ground level. And average water level summer is 32 to 34 m and in winter 28 to 30 m. wells and tube wells in this area are perennial and yield ranges 10 to 250 KLPD.
In Deccan trap area weathered, fracture jointed and vesicular basalt is main aquifer. It occurs in Northern and Southern part of district well depth range is 10 to 18 m bellow ground level. The average water level summer is 7 to 12 m and in winter 2 to 7 m. most of the wells in this area are seasonal and general yield ranges 5 to 50 KLPD.
Fig 1- Hydrograph in alluvial part of district –
Geography-
| Total watershed | Safe watershed | Semi critical | Critical | Over exploited | Remarks |
| 66 | 38 | 17 | 2 | 9 | Critical & Overexploited occurs in alluvial part |
Historical –
In Mahabharata. Gomati, Kheda, Manika & Vidharbha are the main region out of which Khada is referred as Khandesh region. Up to 1906 Dhule district and Jalgoan district jointly known as Khandesh and in 1906 it was divided into East and west khandesh comprises of 10 taluka and 3 petha in 1999 district is dividing into fifteen talukas.
The hanging Pillars is located in Farkande village of Erondal Taluka, Famous Changadeo temple at confluence of Tapi and Purna river, Hot water spring occurs nr Unapdev in Chopda Taluka. Historical temple of lord Ganesha near village Padmalya in Erondal Taluka is the some places in the district.
Cultural-
Marathi, Aharani are the main speaking language of the area. The people in western part of district speak Aharani language.
The hill ranges Satpuda where tribal population occurs three Taluka mainly Yawal Raver and Chopda covering 63 villages Tadvi, Pawara are the main tribal cast. Apart from traditional festival, Rathyatra and 12 Bullckcart are the pulled by one men are the main traditional festival celebrated by the people.
Hot spot- Depleting water level in alluvial part of district, Rainfall is the main reason for scarcity and flood. During year 2006 district experience major flood, Bird flue and chicken guinea diseases. In the month of May 2006,2007 & 2008 Raver Taluka faces Storong Storms continuously.
River Linkage Project-
Surplus water from Girna Dam is utilized to fill other medium and minor dam though Girna canal network.
Some important web site-