Barabani is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in Asansol subdivision of Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Geography Barabani CD Block is part of the Ajay Damodar Barakar tract. This area is sort of an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. It is a rocky area with laterite soil, with the Ajay on the north, the Damodar on the south and the Barakar on the west. Once heavily wooded, the discovery of coal in the eighteenth century led to industrialisation and the clear-cutting of most of the forests. Barabani CD Block is bounded by Nala CD Block, in Jamtara district of Jharkhand, on the north, Jamuria and Raniganj CD Blocks on the east, Asansol (municipal corporation) and after that Santuri CD Block, in Purulia district, and Saltora CD Block, in Bankura district, on the south and Salanpur CD Block on the west. Barabani CD Block has an area of 156.35 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 8 gram panchayats, 92 gram sansads (village councils), 49 mouzas and 46 inhabited villages. Barabani police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Domohani Bazar. Nunia, a small stream about 40 km long has its origin near Adra village in the Salanpur area, flows through the Barabani area, past Asansol and joins the Damodar in the Raniganj area. Gram panchayats of Barabani block/panchayat samiti are: Barabani, Domohani, Itapara, Jamgram, Nuni, Pangachhia, Panuria and Punchra. Demographics Population As per the 2011 Census of India Barabani CD Block had a total population of 127,542, of which 79,255 were rural and 48,287 were urban. There were 65,912 (52%) males and 61,630 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 16,720. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,542 (29.44%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 18,903 (14.82%). As per 2001 census, Barabani block had a total population of 110,361, out of which 57,735 were males and 52,626 were females. Barabani block registered a population growth of 9.97 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Bardhaman district was 14.36 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent. Scheduled castes at 34,630 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 16,905. Census Towns in Barabani CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Panuria (8,399), Domohani (12,480), Bhanowara (8,855), Majiara (5,444), Pangachhiya (9,165) and Charanpur (Outgrowth) (3,944). Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Barabani CD Block are