7 provinces of Nepal | Comparison and analysis

 

compare all the provinces in terms of their situations or geography, population, land use, and transport. hydropower and industrial estates, tourist sites, and educational institutions that contribute to the growth of gross domestic product as well as their human development levels. This may be done in a large table with some specific headings like the ones given below.

Landform and climate, Population size and density, Status of agriculture and animal husbandry, Facilities of transport, Approximate hydropower generation and potential, Industrial estates, Major tourist destinations, Universities, etc. (Work in groups to construct a few tables and paste the best on the wall.)

This can be done province-wise in groups using a large paper. Do this by forming your groups. Use the following ideas/facts too. These are only about ma•or striking details of these provinces.

Province No. 1: Capital -Biratnagar

Easternmost. wettest, (has) biggest river system. The highest peak (Mt Everest as well as the third one

i.e. Kanchanjungha), a world heritage site (SNP), big areas of forest, the first large-scale industry of Nepal (BJM), the deepest valley of the world (Arun), high potential of hydroelectricity, the best site for cultivation of tea along with cardamom, etc., high density of population, a lot of industrialization, good for overall cultivation, original settlements of Rais, Limbus and Sherpas, one of the few religious zones of Nepal: Barahakshetra .officially in 2079 this province is named as koshi Pradesh.

Province No. 2: Capital -Janakpur

Purely Terai (least number of districts 8 only), no mountains and high hills (only Chure range), all plain; hot and fertile, highly cultivable, high density of population, very backward in human development index due to low literacy and health conditions, highly industrialized, inhabited by Madhesi communities; Tharus, Yadavs, Shahs, etc., rich in pilgrimage sites: Janakpurdham,

Gadhimai, Chhinnamasta, etc., the main entry point from India (Birgunj), the new international airport (Njigadh) under construction, bread basket, often badly flooded in the rainy season. (Final name  made Pradesh)

Province No. 3: Capital- Hetaunda

Mostly Himalayan and Hilly parts (Mt. Ganesh, Gaurishankar, Dorje Pahad, Jugal. etc.),

Mahabharat range in the south, is mostly cold and cool, and the most densely populated, national capital is Kathmandu, the only international airport (Tribhuwan Airport), the most industrialized among all provinces, several protected areas, main Newari and Tamang settareasnt areas, rich in social, religious and cultural aspects (famous pilgrimage sites: Pashupatinath, Bauddhanath, Gosainkunda, Dcvghat, Sankhu, Namobuddha, etc.), the best network of roads. both of the available cable car services, first to have a powerhouse, university, and international airport. cable ear, bungee jumping, zoo, metropolitan city, trolley bus, ropeway, etc., highest human development index in the nation (Final name: Gandaki province)

Gandaki Province (Province No. 4): Captital- Pokhara

Mostly hilly and Himalayan, situated in the middle of the country, high mountain ranges, and peaks (Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Macchapuchchhrc), very diverse natural conditions, both driest place (Mustang) and wettest place (Pokhara) of the country, biggest hydropower (Kaligandaki A), the deepest river of the country (KG), high tourism potential (Mustang, Annapurna Area project, Manakamana, Pokhara, Baglung, etc.), the deepest lake of the world (Lake Tilicho),   rain shadow arca in Mustang & Manang, world's deepest gorge (Dana, Kaligandaki), original settlements of Thakali, Gurungs, Magars, fairly good Icvcl of human development index, only hunting reserve of the country (Dhorpatan)

Province No. 5: Capital -Butwal

Hilly and Terai only, no border with China, no high mountains, hot fertile plains, and cool hills, drained by Karnali, Babai, Rapti, Tinau, Banganga, etc., a large area of the forest, highly cultivable ground, large irrigational canals such as Babai and Sikta, relatively low rainfall, birthplace or Buddha (Lumbini), Major Tharu settlements, a second international airport under construction in Bhairahawa, 2 national parks: Banke and Bardiya; Dhorpatan Hunting Rcscrvc, also famous for

Swargadwari, Ridi, Nepalgunj, etc. (Final name:Lumbini)

Karnali Province (Province No. 6): Capital - Surkhet

Largest province, mostly in the north, with no border with India, high mountains and hills in the vast north, rich in wildness, scenery, and medicinal herbs, drained mainly by Karnali and its tributaries (Humla Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Sani Bheri, Thuli Bheri, Tila, Seti & Budhiganga), famous lakes Rara and Shey-phoksundo, major Magar and Bhote settlements, famous for apple cultivation, remotest of all regions, driest of all, least industrialized, poor infrastructures such as transport, health, and education, most backward in human development index, good prospects for tourism, agriculture, and animal farming.

Sudur Pashchim Province (Province No. 7): Capital -Godawari

Westernmost province, which keeps the former Far Western Development Region intact, spreads from the northern to southern border with India in the west and south, all the three ecological zones Himalayan, Hilly, and Tcrai covered, drained by the Mahakali, Seti, and Karnali in part, relatively drier than other province s in summer but wetter in winter, famous for high mountains such as Api and Saipal, lakes such as Khaptad and protected areas such as Khaptad National Park and Shukhlaphanta Wildlife Reserve, cities such as Dhangadhi, Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura and

Sil radi, rich in natural and cultural diversity, most low level of human development

 

1. Which provinces of Nepal have more arable land? What might be its effects on economic development?

  Provinces nos. l, 2, and 5 of Nepal have a lot of arable (cultivable) land. Of this, most lies in the fertile alluvial plain of the Terai region. This type of soil has made the Terai 'the Granary ofNepal'  In other words, the Terai is the bread basket of Nepal where very high quantities of crops such as rice, maize, wheat, potato, and vegetables, as well as cash crops such as mustard, tobacco, jute, sugarcane and cotton, are produced. Farming provides many people with jobs. The trade of the surplus amount to markets or to industries straightaway also engages many other people. Agriculture is the main source of food and income for many people there. Without the raw materials from farms such as jute, sugarcane, and potato many industries in the Terai cannot operate. Agro products are also exported to India and Bangladesh. Therefore, the arable land of the Terai, especially the three provinces mentioned above, has contributed greatly to the development of industries, trade, and business as well as the generation of employment opportunities for local people.

2. Which provinces of Nepal have snow-covered areas? How can these areas be utilized for economic growth?

  Offline four provinces of Nepal spreading into the Himalayan Region, Provinces nos. 1, 3, and 4 have more snow-covered areas. More specifically, the highest snow-clad mountains of Nepal, as well as the world (Mt. Everest, Kanchanjungha, Lhotse, Makalu, and Choyu), lie in Province No. l. This province also has more area of snow.

Snow-covered areas are not suitable for settlement and farming. Even the areas below them are very cold and dry, and steep and remote. Therefore, the human population there is very scarce. But the mountainous parts of the provinces mentioned above are very famous for tourism, especially mountaineering and trekking. Some tourists also visit areas for sightseeing and research. Tourism is a reliable source of foreign currency for our country. It also encourages trade and business. Namche Bazaar of Solukhumbu and Jomsom of Mustang are two sites where trade and business have developed a lot due to high tourist arrivals.  

3. What might be the prospects of Province No. 2 for its development? (It's the province with the least varied natural conditions.)

  Despite its least varied natural conditions, Province no. 2 has a special prospect% for development. Some of them are as follows.

a. In the ratio of total area, Province no. 2 has a large area of highly cultivable land with a hot wet climate. If the rivers flowing there can be harnessed and irrigation facilities can be provided, it can produce very large amounts of crops and cash crops.

b. A major industrial corridor of the country covering several industrial estates and towns such as Rajbiraj, Sunsari, Janakpur, Birgunj, and Kalaiya is located in this province,

c. Some major southern entry points of Nepal from India including the most important one i.e.

Birgunj (Raxaul) is located in this province. These are major sources of national revenues, d. The Chure range of this province has a very dense forest area which can provide a lot of time for construction and furniture. It's also rich in other construction materials such as sand and pebbles,

e. This province is very densely populated. So there is enough supply of human resources for agricultural and industrial work.

4. What might be such prospects of Sudur Pashchim Province (no. 7)? (It's a province with highly varied natural conditions.)

& Sudur Pashchim Province (no. 7) has very varied natural conditions and diverse populations. Its major prospects for development might be like the ones below:

a. As this province has high mountains such as Api and Saipal as well as protected areas such as Khaptad, and Shuklaphanta, and many sites of pristine environment and pilgrimages, it has a high potential for tourism development.

b. Mountainous parts of this provincchavc favorable conditions for apple farming. If modernized and commercialized, apple cultivation can help the economic growth of the whole region substantially.  

c. These areas are valuable medicinal herbs such as cordyceps and serpentine. Thcsc can be widely extracted, processed, and exported.

d. This province is also rich in water resources. Large rivers such •as the Karnali, Scti, and    Mahakali can be used for large-scale hydroelectricity generation and irrigation. e. Closer networks of roads developed in the Indian Province of Uttarakhand and the Tibetan part of China can provide alternative access to transport and trade for this province.

9. What might the federal government have to do to ensure competitive and balanced development of all provinces?

& Expected answer

a. The federal government is the custodian of all province governments. It has to maintain proper coordination among all provinces.

b. It has to better support weaker provinces. This can be done through special funding and technical assistance.

c. It has to assist the provinces as per necessity in designing development plans and projects.

d. It has to facilitate negotiations between the provinces when needed.

e. It has to offer advice on constitutional and executive matters when deemed necessary or demanded.