Asansol the second largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal after Kolkata, and the 39th largest urban agglomeration in India. Asansol is located in the Burdwan District of India. According to a 2010 report released by the International Institute for Environment and Development, a UK-based policy research non-governmental body, Asansol is ranked 11th among Indian cities. and 42nd in the world. in its list of 100 fastest-growing cities. As per the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, Asansol has been listed as a Y-category city for calculation of HRA (House Rent Allowance) for public servants. It happens to be the only non-Z category city in West Bengal apart from Kolkata which belongs to the X category.
Geography
Asansol is located in the Burdwan District of the Indian state of West Bengal. It forms the lower Chota Nagpur plateau, which occupies most of Jharkhand. It is located between the Damodar and Ajay rivers. Another river, Barakar, joins the Damodar near Dishergarh. A small rivulet, Nunia, flows past Asansol. While Dhanbad district lies on the western side, Durgapur sub division of Bardhman district lies on the eastern side. To the south, across the Damodar river are the Purulia and Bankura districts. To the north are Dumka and Birbhum districts. Dhanbad district across the Barakar river in Jharkhand is also a major mining area and has close links with Asansol. Both lie in the Damodar valley.
History
In 1774, Suetonius Heatly and John Sumner of the British East India Company realized that local people were using coal in the region of which Asansol is a part. Their early explorations and mining operations were carried out in a haphazard manner and demand was limited. Regular mining operations started in 1820, led by an agency house, Alexander and Co. In 1835, Prince Dwarkanath Tagore bought over the collieries and Carr and Tagore Co. led the field.
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Source From :- Wikipedia