pakistan geographical review 1954 - University of the Punjab

LAND USE SURVEY OF
WARAH AND KOT MANGAL
SAIN
BY
Dr. Miss. M. K. ELAHI,
Department of GeograPhy, University of the Panjab.
At a distance of about 1 mile S 5°E from the well known salt mmmg
cen tre of Khewra are situated the twin villages of War ah Thal and Kat Mangal-
Sain. The site is representative of a broard class of villages located along the
line where plains and mountains meet. The position is at the same time
advantageous and debilitating to the extent of being precarious. Being on the
buffer zone between the contending interests of the Jhelum river regime and the
zone of influence of the apparently stationary but in reality encroaching Salt-
Range, the villages in certain respects take homage from both and in other
respects are subjected to the adverse influences from one side or the other.
Normally speaking the total populace obtains its living from the
tert ile soils of the flood plains of the Jhelum, which flows about 3 miles southwards
from here, and at the same time utilizes the proximity to the mountains
by working in the mines and the associated industries. Under other circumstances
there are constant ravages from the mountain side in the form of
the spread of its debris on the northern fields. The action of the hill torrents
impair the fertility of the soil by mixing it with coarse gra vel and pebbles of
varying sizes. Another effect of rain water and runnels though not so much in
cau sing sheet or gully erosion, is to be seen in the spread of a fine coating of
salt s dissolved in sufficient quantities in water draining downwards from the
Salt-Range. The spread of salt really becomes a problem in the less rainy years
than in the rainier ones. In years of small rainfall the amount and flow of
rainfall is just active enough to transport salt from the slopes to the fringe of
the riverain tract down below. When the rain is not very small in amount the
salt contents are carried further downwards towards the river and the fields of
the villages concerned receive just enough soil and salt as to be able to renoyate
the fields. It is, therefore, seen that the acreage of Kharaba or crop failure
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