Asansol is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal after Kolkata and the 39th largest urban agglomeration in India. Asansol is located in the Burdwan District of India. Its hinterland is Bankura and Purulia districts and North Bengal, linked to parts of Orissa and Jharkhand states. According to a report released by International Institute for Environment and Development, a UK-based policy research non-governmental body, Asansol is among the 11 Indian cities in the list of 100 fastest growing cities in the world with a rank of 42. The name Asansol is derived from two different names, Asan tree (a species of tree found on the of river Damodar) and Sol-Bhumi/Sol-land (the land rich in minerals)
