Cities, towns and locations in the western portion of Dhanbad Sadar subdivision in Dhanbad district MC: Municipal Corporation, CT: Census Town, N: Neighbourhood, R: Rural/ Urban centre Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
Katras is part of Ward No. 1 of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation.[4]
The region
The region shown in the map is a part of the undulating uplands bustling with coalmines. The Damodar River, the most important river of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, flows along the southern border. The area beyond the Damodar was once a part of Dhanbad district but was transferred to Bokaro district in 2001. The bulk of the area shown in the map is part of Baghmara community development block. In the Baghmara CD block 67% of the population lives in rural areas and 33% in urban areas. The block has 18 census towns, all marked in the map, except Rajganj, which is shown in the map for the northern portion of the district. A portion of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation extends into the region till around Katras. The places in the DMC area are marked as neighbourhoods. Most of the DMC area is shown in the maps for the central and southern portions of the district. Four operational areas of BCCL operate fully within the region – Katras Area, Govindpur Area, Barora Area and Block II Area. The Mahuda sector of Western Jharia Area also operates in the region.[5][6][7]
Demographics
In the 2011 Indian census,[8] Katras had a population of 51,182, of which 54% are male and 46% are female. Katras has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 87%, and female literacy is 76%. In Katras, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Government and public services
Civic administration
Katras was established as a notified area in the Dhanbad district along with Jharia, Chatatand, and Sindri. In 2006, the notified areas were merged into the district under the jurisdiction of the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC).[9] It is allocated to the Baghmara development block of the district and has its own police station.[10][11]
Economy
Collieries functioning in the Katras Area of BCCL are: Salanpur, Angarpathar, Keshalpur, Ramkanali, Ramkanali OC, West Mudidih, Gazlitand, Keshalpur OC, Katras Chot and East Katras.[12]
Agriculture is under-developed. Farms are tiny and ancient tools are used. BCCL is now retrenching and closing its mines due to coal depletion. New professions emerging in the area are Coal-theft[13] and Dalali (Agent-ship).
