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The physical setting of the Kolhapur
district is divided into three main parts namely Eastern
ranges, Central ranges and Southern ranges. Eastern and
Central ranges have black soil formed from 'lava' and at some
places it has large tracks of fertile land. The western ranges
are mostly hilly and have red soil. The majority area in the
west is under thick forest coverage.
Radhanagari Hydro-electric Scheme
This was the first major irrigation work in
the district. The scheme was originally started by the former
Kolhapur State in 1908 during the period of Chhatrapati Shahu
Maharaj mainly as an irrigation scheme. The famous engineer
Vishweshvaraiya had been involved in planning the dam, built
on river Bhogavati. It was constructed up to 40 feet in 1917
and it was only after 1946 when construction got momentum and
it was completed in 1957. The maximum height of dam is 140
feet and is 126 feet over river-bed with top width of 18.4
feet. The storage capacity is 239.53 MCFT and command area is
26560 acres.
It has a power house at its foot with 24 MW capacity. The
project has brought a large area in Radhanagari, Karvir,
Hatkanagale and Shirol talukas of the district under
irrigation. This project has given start to a number of
irrigation projects and today, district has one of the largest
area under irrigation in the state. The Kolhapur type Weir (
K.T. Weir ) is famous all over the country. The district also
boasts of a number of co-operative lift irrigation societies.
Dairy Co-operative Movement
The Kolhapur district is a leading district
in dairy farming and it boasts of milk-production with huge
exports of milk and milk-products. The setting up of dairies
Gokul, Warana and Mayur is a landmark in economic development
of the district especially Gokul Milk Co-operative which is
one of the biggest dairies in India.
Warana is a classic example and excellent Manifestation of
RURAL CREATIVITY In a real sense of the term. Late Sheri
Tayasaheb Kore, A legendary name in the co-operative Movement
in India, and a visionary Of unmatched qualities, founded the
Sugar factory in WARANANAGAR In 1959 and the stone started
rolling. He set the pace and never looked back.
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