Damak

Damak (Nepali: दमक) is one of the oldest municipalities in Jhapa District in Province No. 1 of Nepal. It is situated between the Ratuwa River in the east and the Maawa River in the west. It has Sivalik Hills in its north and ends with the intersection of Ratuwa River and Mawa River in the south. Mahendra Highway (longest highway of Nepal) crosses this municipality nearly bisecting it. It is the largest city in Jhapa District as well as in Mechi zone with a population of 75,743 in 2011 A.D[1]

For other uses, see Damak (disambiguation).

Damak

दमक नगरपालिका

Sundar Nagari
Municipality
Damak Chowk
Nickname(s): 
DMK City
Motto(s): 
Dedicated for development and prosperity through hard work, perseverance and integrity.
Damak
Location in Province No. 1
Damak
Damak (Nepal)
Coordinates: 26.63°N 87.70°E / 26.63; 87.70
Country   Nepal
Development RegionEastern
ProvinceProvince No. 1
ZoneMechi Zone
DistrictJhapa District
Government
 • MayorMr. Romnath Oli (NCP)
 • Deputy MayorMrs. Gita Adhikari (NCP)
Area
 • Total75.74 km2 (29.24 sq mi)
Elevation
71 m (233 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total75,743
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5:45 (NST)
Postal code
57217
Area code(s)023
Websitedamakmun.gov.np

Demography

The ethnicity and caste pattern of the municipality shows diversity with major ethnic groups as Brahmin (33.09 percent), Chhetri (23.62 percent), Dhimal (6.53 percent), Limbu (6.5 percent), Newar (6.14 percent) and Rai (5.77 percent). Besides these ethnic groups other various ethnic groups comprise small proportions of the population such as Kaami (2.88 percent), Tamang (2.51 percent) Damai/Dholi (2.35 percent). The remaining other ethnic and caste groups like Teli, Gharti/Bhujel, Magar, Sarki,Gurung, Muslim, etc. comprises about 10 percent of the total population.

Damak is one of the oldest city from the whole district and it was the most safest place in the maowist war.

Elected officials

Damak was changed to a municipality from a VDC (Village Development Committee) in 1981 AD. The Damak municipality consists of 10 wards, with previous 19 wards rearranged and some wards merged. Damak also includes the large Himalayan tea estate (हिमालय गूडरिक) where the Ex-Royal Family has also invested. The municipality covers an area of 7,513 hectares and is at an average of 100 meters above sea level. Lakhanpur is to the east, Urlabari, Rajghat and Madhumalla is in the west and Chulachuli (Ilam) and Kohabhara VDC in the north and the south, respectively.

According to the census of 2011, Damak had 7,178 households containing about 36,000 people. The total area is 7,513 hectares out of which 1406.7 hectares is covered by residential area whereas 5,586.30 hectares is used for agriculture. The market area consists of 400.00 hectares, 215 hectares as forest plant area and 265.00 hectares is used in other purposes.

It is the biggest city in Mechi zone. Pashuhat, located in Damak-7, is known as the biggest cattle market in the Nepal.

Health and services

In 056/057 there was 1 Health post, 1 Hospital (AMDA) and 1 Nursing Home (Life Line) which contains 100 beds in total but now including AMDA and life line: there are 7 hospital they are AMDA-Nepal, Advance Health Care Centre, life line, om mechi, Q&Q hospital, Namaste Public Hospital, Janta National Hospital, damak hospital & research center. The Population Growth Rate is 5.14 per annum as per 2047/48 census. As per 056/057 census, there were about 88 industries, 1011 shops, 244 hotels and 9 financial institutions. Black topped road were 29 km, graveled roads were 150 km and earthen road were 500 km. In addition to it, the drainage runs 3.5  km through the main highway. There are 512 street lights and above 4000 telephone lines to the public. Three Bhutanese Refugees camps (Beldangi 1, 2, and 3) were also settled in Damak in 1992. Victoria Cross Medal winner Rambahadur Limbu currently lives in Damak.

It is one of the important trade centers in the eastern part of Nepal. There are many international organizations such as IOM, UNHCR, OXFAM, LWF, NRCS, AMDA, CARITAS NEPAL, etc. who are working for the refugees here in Damak.

List of hospitals in Damak
  • Amda
  • Damak Hospital
  • Om Mechi
  • Life Line
  • Nims
  • Advance
  • Q&Q Hospital
  • Namaste Public Hospital

Education

According to 2001 Nepal census, literacy rate of the city is 88%.[2]

Damak Multiple Campus is oldest campus in the city established in 1981. It is only the campus offering education up to master's degree. Other well known colleges include Global educational academy, Model Campus Damak (merged with Motherland English Boarding School; the one of the reputed school of Damak), Siddhartha College of Management, Bhanubhakta Academy, Damuna vidya mandir and Unique College having program up to bachelor's degree. Damak Multiple Campus, Damak Technical College Siddhartha College of Management are affiliated to Tribhuvan University whereas Unique College is affiliated to Purbanchal University, Nepal. Notable Schools in Damak are Everest Boarding High School, Global educational academy, Narendra Memorial Eng Secondary School, Everest Boarding English Medium School, Purbanchal English Boarding School, Siddhartha Boarding Higher Secondary School, Oxford English Secondary School, Samata Shiksha Niketan, Greenway Educational Academy, Aastha College of Management, Jhapa Model English Higher Secondary School, Sunrise Model School, Singha devi higher secondary School and Chula Chuli English Boarding School. The Himalaya Higher Secondary School, Damak, Jhapa, Shree Saraswati Higher Secondary School, Ithabhatta are one of the reputed and old government school. The Oxford English Secondary School is a school located at Damak. Besides there is a renowned missionary school run by Cluny Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent. The mission school is named as Suryodaya English School popularly known as 'Father Boarding' owing to the founder of the school Father L Harvey who started the school in early 80's(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suryodaya_English_School). Allied English Boarding School is also a reputed along these. School Data

  • Primary – 1038
  • Lower Secondary – 700
  • Secondary – 1408
  • Technical School Under CTEVT – 490
  • Higher Secondary – 1500
  • Affiliated Campus – 9
  • University – 0 (1 needed for almost 50,000 students in Damak)

Communication and Entertainment

Nepal Telecom Damak Branch serves as the center for Telecommunication and Cellular with two huge Skyline Towers. Whereas Axiatas's Ncell is also popular in the city having 82 small and One huge tower installed for the fastest connectivity. There are 3 cellular providers in Damak; Ncell, NTC and Smart Cell. Here, all 3 cellular providers delivers 4G services in Damak.

Damak has five FM stations named Saptarangi FM(101.6mHZ), Radio Himshikhar(103.3Mhz), Star FM(92Mhz), Radio Jhapa (100.7Mhz), and Pathibhara FM(93.6MHZ).[3] But national radio station Radio Nepal and other surrounding FM stations Kanchanjungha FM, Saptakoshi FM, Koshi FM, Kantipur FM can clearly be heard in the city. Damak is also broadcasting the television channel named Himshikhar Television from a couple of years and running successfully in the region. A new TV channel named Jagriti CT channel is also currently broadcasting in Damak. There used to be two TV DTH providers named National cable and another Kankai cable( which later merged with National cable and started its services with the name Jagriti National Cable and later named as Doen TV (2017) and Mero TV (2019)). in Damak.

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References
  1. "National Population and Housing Census 2011" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics. Government of Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  2. "Nepal Census 2001".
  3. "Saptarangi FM official website". theowner. Retrieved 21 October 2010.

Official website

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