About 58 per cent of Surguja district lies under forest, with Ambikapur as its seat

Background

Surguja is the northern district that gives its name to the Surguja division of Chhattisgarh. The district administration records that about 58% of the area in the district lies under forests, one of the highest shares in the State. Ambikapur is the seat of the district and is described as the capital of Surguja. The district record states that the major population comprises tribal population, which is why Surguja falls within the Scheduled Areas framework used for tribal administration. Surguja is the division in which the Hasdeo Arand forest belt and the State's northern coalfields are located.