Mainpat - Shimla Of Chhattisgarh | Page 10

• SETTLEMENT LOCATION THE SETTLEMENT IS LOCATED AT MAINPAT IN SURGUJA DISTRICT OF CHATTISGARH STATE IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF INDIA. THE NEAREST TOWN, AMBIKAPUR IS 50 KM FROM IT BUT THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD IS ABSOLUTELY DRIVE'S NIGHTMARE AND PUTTING THE DRIVING SKILL TO THE TEST. AMBIKAPUR IS MEDIUM SIZE TOWN THRIVING ON VAST HINTERLAND OF AGRICULTURAL VILLAGES AND RICH MINING INDUSTRIES. IT HAS SUFFICIENTLY GOOD AND ADEQUATE HEALTH, TELECOMMUNICATION AND OTHER SERVICE SECTOR. THE NEAREST RAILHEAD IS RAIGARH, WHICH IS ABOUT 350 KMS FROM THE SETTLEMENT. THE SETTLEMENT IS ABOUT 300 KM FROM VARANASI, WHICH HAS FLIGHT CONNECTION TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THE GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF THE SETTLEMENT AREA IS ON A TABLELAND AT THE AVERAGE ELEVATION OF 3500 FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL. • SETTLEMENT POPULATION • INITIAL POPULATION 2000 • PRESENT POPULATION 1825 • NO OF VILLAGES THE SETTLEMENT CONSISTS OF 7 CAMPS SCATTERED WITHIN A RADIUS OF 25 KMS WITH AN AVERAGE DISTANCE OF ABOUT 5 TO 6 KMS FROM EACH OTHER. THE CAMP NO. 1 IS SO TO SAY LOCATIONALLY AND ALSO FUNCTIONALLY CENTRAL CAMP. THE SCHOOL, SETTLEMENT OFFICE, CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, WORKSHOP AND HEALTH CLINICS ARE ALL LOCATED HERE. EVEN THEN DISTANCE BETWEEN THE OUTERMOST CAMPS AND THE CAMP-I IS MORE THAN 15 KMS WHICH MAKES THE ACCESSIBILITY TO SERVICES DIFFICULT. THE CAMPS ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER BY UNPAVED DIRT ROADS WHICH TURNS INTO VIRTUAL CESSPOOL DURING THE RAINY SEASON 1