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Kolar district is located in the southern plains region of the Karnataka State. It lies between 77°21' to 78°35' east longitude and 12°46' to 13°58' north latitude and extends over an area of 8225 sq. km divided into 11 taluks.
Kolar belongs to semi arid zone of Karnataka. The distribution of rainfall is during southwest and northeast monsoon seasons. Out of about 280 thousand hectares of land under cultivation, 35% is under well and tank irrigation. Secondary data from the forest department shows that 7 taluks have forest cover less than 10%, 2 taluks are in the range of 10% to 20% (Gudibanda and Srinivaspura) while remaining 2 taluks (Bagepalli and Chikballapur) have forest cover greater than 20%.
The average population density of the district is 2.09 persons/ha (rural) and 2.69 persons/ha (rural+urban). The population density ranges from 1.44 (Bagepalli),1.69 (Gudibanda), 1.70 (Srinivaspura) to the maximum of 2.55 (Kolar).While, the population density in taluks lies within this range - Bangarapet(2.52), Malur(2.38), Gauribidanur ( 2.36), Sidlaghatta ( 2.16 ), Chintamani ( 2.10 ), Mulbagal (2.04), Chikballapur (1.92).
Gauribidanur taluk, lies in northwestern side of the district has basic soil and allows the growth of Prosopis juliflora, was chosen for mapping and verification of fuel wood trees.