Prakasam district

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Prakasam district
Ongole district
Prakasam district Montage.png
Location of Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh
Location of Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh
Coordinates (Ongole): 15°20′N 79°33′E / 15.333°N 79.550°E / 15.333; 79.550Coordinates: 15°20′N 79°33′E / 15.333°N 79.550°E / 15.333; 79.550
Country India
StateAndhra Pradesh
Established1970
HeadquartersOngole
Government
 • CollectorPravin Kumar , IAS[1]
 • Superintendent of PoliceMallika Garg, IPS
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesBapatla (SC) (Lok Sabha constituency), Ongole (Lok Sabha constituency)
 • Vidhan Sabha constituencies12
Area
 • District of Andhra Pradesh17,626 km2 (6,805 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • District of Andhra Pradesh3,397,448
 • Density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
 • Urban
19.52%
Demographics
 • Literacy63.53%
 • Sex ratio981
Vehicle registrationAP-27 (former)
AP–39 (from 30 January 2019)[3]
Major highwaysNH-16
Websiteprakasam.ap.gov.in

Prakasam district (formerly called the Ongole district) is one of the nine districts in the Coastal Andhra region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was formed in 1970. The headquarters of the district is Ongole. It is located on the western shore of Bay of Bengal and is bounded by Guntur district on the north, Kurnool district on the west, Kadapa and Nellore districts on the south. A part of north west region also borders the Mahabubnagar district of Telangana.[4] It is the third-largest district in the state and tenth-largest in the country with an area of 17,626 km2 (6,805 sq mi) and had a population of 3,392,764 as per 2011 Census of India.[5]

Etymology[edit]

The district was named after the patriot and first Chief Minister of Andhra State Tanguturi Prakasam, also known as Andhra Kesari, who was born in the village of Vinodarayunipalem. It was accordingly renamed as Prakasam District in the year 1972.[6][citation needed]

History[edit]

Prakasam district was originally constituted on 2 February 1970, carved out of Guntur, Nellore and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh.[7] It was carved out of three taluks of Guntur district, i.e. Addanki, Chirala, and Ongole, four taluks of Nellore district, i.e. Kandukur, Kanigiri, Darsi and Podili and three taluks of Kurnool district i.e. Markapur, Yarragondapalem and Giddaluru. It is one of the nine districts in the Coastal Andhra region of Andhra Pradesh.

Prakasam district used to be a part of the Red Corridor.[citation needed]

Geography[edit]

Prakasam district occupies an area of 17,626 square kilometres (6,805 sq mi),[5] comparatively equivalent to Indonesia's Seram Island.[8]

The only Municipal Corporation in Prakasam is Ongole. Some of the main towns in Prakasam district are Singarayakonda, Addanki, Inkollu, Markapur, Yerragondapalem, Podili, Darsi, Donakonda, Chirala, Kandukur, Pamuru, Parchur, Giddaluru, Dornala, Cumbum, Kanigiri, Chimakurthy and Martur. Markapur is India's main slate-manufacturing town and the home of the historic temple of Lord Chennakesava. Chimakurthi is world-renowned for its granite reserves. Dornala is also known as Diguva Srisailam, since it is very near the historic pilgrimage centre of Srisailam.

Cumbum lake also known as Gundalakamma lake built on Gundalakamma rivulet upon Nallamalai hills is one of the oldest man made lakes of Asia. The anicut was built by the Vijayanagar princess Varadharaj Amma. The lake in its present form is about 7 km (4.3 mi) long and on average, about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) wide. As per the Imperial gazette of India at the turn of the 20th century, the height of the dam was 57 feet (17 m) and the drainage area was 1,100 km2 (420 sq mi). The direct irrigation land was about 10,300 acres (4,200 ha) in all. Cumbum lake is accessible both by the rail Guntur-Nandyal railway line and is situated about 108 km (67 mi) from Ongole. Although classified under the Coastal Andhra region, the district's western half has Rayalaseema like geography and climate, being reasonably arid.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901975,037—    
19111,068,743+0.92%
19211,117,701+0.45%
19311,205,223+0.76%
19411,343,883+1.09%
19511,463,737+0.86%
19611,671,726+1.34%
19711,919,995+1.39%
19812,329,571+1.95%
19912,759,166+1.71%
20013,059,423+1.04%
20113,397,448+1.05%
source:[9]

As of 2011 census of India, the district had a population of 3,397,448 with a density of 193 persons per sq.km. The total population constitute, 17,14,764 males and 16,82,684 females –a ratio of 981 females per 1000 males. The total urban population is 664,582 (19.56%).[10]:20 There are 19,04,435 literates with a literacy rate of 63.08%.[10]:21

Economy[edit]

The Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) of the district is 35,962 crore (US$5.0 billion) and it contributes 6.9% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). For the FY 2013–14, the per capita income at current prices was 85,765 (US$1,200). The primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the district contribute 12,875 crore (US$1.8 billion), 7,897 crore (US$1.1 billion) and 15,190 crore (US$2.1 billion), respectively.[11] The major products contributing to the GVA of the district from agriculture and allied services are, tobacco, paddy, chillies, batavia, milk, meat and fisheries. The GVA to the industrial and service sector is contributed from construction, minor minerals, unorganised trade and ownership of dwellings.[11]

Industries[edit]

The district has many service industries such as industrial testing, electrical appliance repair, clinical laboratories, servicing of computer hardware, tourism, and hospitality. Major exports from the district include seafood, processed tobacco, granite blocks, granite monuments and yarn.[12] There are many industries of food and agriculture, mineral, chemical, leather, plastic and rubber, engineering, cotton and textiles, electronic products. All these industries deal with prawn and fish processing and canning, dairy products, the granite industry, pharmaceuticals, tanning, fishing nets, surgical cotton, etc. Forest-based industries produce Ayurvedic medicines, essential oil (Palm Rose Oil), wooden furniture, wooden toys, bamboo products, etc.[13]

Bhairava Kona
Bhairava Kona

Mining[edit]

The district leads in granite mining in the state with discovery of Galaxy Granite in the Chimakurthy area of the district. Good deposits of coloured granites are located occur around Uppumaguluru and Kodidena.[13] The minerals found in the district are Baryte, iron ore, quartz, and silica sand. In 2010-11, 4,300 tonnes of Baryte, 22,722 tonnes of quartz, 2,24,075 tonnes of silica sand and 400 tonnes of iron ore were produced.[13]

Granite barons in Prakasam district sold ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 as the natural stone material was widely used in the construction of the sports village. The famous Black Galaxy granite, Black pearl, Steal Grey and English Grey processed in the SEZ make it to, among other countries, the U.S., Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. Processing of granite was insignificant in the district before 2010. But now after the setting up of 13 export oriented units within the SEZ and five elsewhere in the district, at least 60% of the decorative stone material is processed here. Over 500 to 600 containers of the material are shipped from the SEZ every month to other countries, the U.S. alone accounting for 20%.

Revenue divisions map of Prakasam district

Tourism[edit]

The Bhairava Kona cave temples are 8th-century single rock-cut cave temples (similar to Mahabalipuram) for Lord Shiva.[14][15]

Cumbum Tank is one of the oldest man-made lakes in Asia. The anicut was built by the Vijayanagar Princess Varadharajamma (also known as Ruchidevi), wife of Sri Krishna Devaraya. The length of this tank is 7 km (4.3 mi) and width is 3 km (1.9 mi). It has received World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) tag in the year 2020 by UNESCO.[16]

Administrative divisions[edit]

The district is divided into 3 revenue divisions of Kandukur, Markapur and Ongole. These are sub-divided into 56 mandals, which consists of 1081 villages and 13 towns. These 13 towns (or urban settlements) in the district include, 1 municipal corporation, 3 municipalities and 5 nagar panchayats. Ongole is the only municipal corporation, Chirala, Kandukur, Markapur are the 3 municipalities and Addanki, Kanigiri, Chimakurthi, Giddalur, Darsi are the nagar panchayats.[17] The census towns in the district are Cumbum, Chirala (CT), Podili, Vetapalem, Pamur and Singarayakonda. Tangutur , Martur,[10]

Mandals[edit]

Prakasam district has 38 mandals spread across 3 revenue divisions as noted below.[18]

Serial
number
Ongole revenue division Kanigiri revenue division Markapur revenue division
Mandal Headquarters Mandal Headquarters Mandal Headquarters
1 Chimakurthy Chimakurthy Darsi Darsi Ardhaveedu Ardhaveedu
2 Kothapatnam Kothapatnam Donakonda Donakonda Bestavaripeta Bestavaripeta
3 Maddipadu Maddipadu Hanumanthunipadu Hanumanthunipadu Cumbum Cumbum
4 Naguluppalapadu Naguluppalapadu Kanigiri Kanigiri Dornala mandal Dornala
5 Ongole Ongole Konakanamitla Konakanamitla Giddaluru Giddaluru
6 Tanguturu Tanguturu Kurichedu Kurichedu Komarolu Komarolu
7 Santhanuthalapadu Santhanuthalapadu Marripudi Marripudi Markapur Markapur
8 Kondapi Kondapi Pamuru Pamuru Peddaraveedu Peddaraveedu
9 Mundlamuru Mundlamuru Pedacherlo Palle Pedacherlo Palle Pullalacheruvu mandal Pullalacheruvu
10 Singarayakonda Singarayakonda Podili Podili Racherla Racherla
11 Talluru Talluru Ponnaluru Ponnaluru Tripuramtakam Tripuramtakam
12 Zarugumalli Zarugumalli Veligandla Veligandla Yerragondapalem Yerragondapalem
13 Chandrasekharapuram Chandrasekharapuram Tarlupadu Tarlupadu

Erstwhile Talukas in Prakasam district[edit]

In 1978, the number of talukas in Prakasam was increased from 9 to 17. Later in 1985, 17 Talukas were divided into 56 mandals.[citation needed]

S.No. Separated from Erstwhile talukas in newly formed

Prakasam district 1971

Newly formed Talukas in 1978 Newly formed Mandals in 1985
1 Guntur district Ongole Ongole Ongole, Tangutur, Kothapatnam
Maddipadu Maddipadu, Chimakurthy, Santhanuthalapadu
2 Chirala Chirala Chirala, Vetapalem, Chinganjam, Naguluppalapadu
Parchur Parchur, Karamchedu, Inkollu
3 Addanki Addanki Addanki, Korisapadu, Janakavaram Pungaluru
Santhamaguluru Santhamaguluru, Ballikuruva, Martur, Yeddanapudi
4 Kurnool District Giddalur Giddalur Giddalur, Racherla, Komarolu
Bestavaripeta Ardhaveedu, Cumbum, Bestavaripeta
5 Markapuram Markapuram Markapuram, Peda araveedu, Dornala
Yerragondapalem Yerragondapalem, Pullalacheruvu, Tripuranthakam
6 Nellore District Podili Podili Podili, Marripudi, Konakanamitla [part]
Tarlupadu Tarlupadu, Konakanamitla [part]
7 Darsi Donakonda, Kurichedu,
Darsi Darsi, Mundlamuru, Thallur
8 Kanigiri Kanigiri Kanigiri, Hanumanthunipadu, Veligandla, Pedacherlopalle [part]
Pamuru Pamuru, Chandrasekharapuram, Pedacherlopalle [part]
9 Kandukur Kandukur Kandukur, Ulavapadu, Gudluru, Lingasamudram, Voletivaripalem
Kondapi Kondapi, Zarugumilli, Singarayakonda, Ponnaluru

Towns in Prakasam District[edit]

 
Largest cities or towns in Prakasam District
As per the 2011 Census
Rank Division Pop.
Chirala
Chirala
1 Ongole Ongole Division 208,344
2 Chirala Ongole Division 187660
3 Markapur Markapur Division 71,092
4 Kandukur Kandukur Division 57,246
5 Addanki Ongole Division 48,022
6 Kanigiri Kandukur Division 37,420
7 Giddalur Markapur Division 35,150
8 Darsi Kandukur Division 33,418
9 Podili Kandukur Division 31,145
10 Chimakurthy Ongole Division 30,279
Municipal Bodies in Prakasam district.
S.No. Towns Civic status of Town Municipality

Formation

Year

No. of

Wards

2011 Census

Population

2001 Census

Population

1 Ongole Municipal Corporation 1876 50 208,344 153,829
2 Chirala Municipality Grade - 1 1948 33 162,471 129,242
3 Markapuram Municipality Grade - 2 1964 35 71,092 58,462
4 Kandukur Municipality Grade - 2 1987 32 57,246 50,326
5 Addanki Nagar Panchayat 2011 20 48,022 35,019
6 Kanigiri Nagar Panchayat 2011 20 37,420 31,122
7 Giddalur Nagar Panchayat 2011 20 35,150 26,977
8 Darsi Nagar Panchayat 2020 20 33,418 25,907
9 Poidili Nagar Panchayat 2020 20 31,145 26,665
10 Chimkurthy Nagar Panchayat 2011 20 30,279 22,042
Erstwhile Talukas [Non-municipalities]
S.No. Erstwhile Talukas Civic status of Town 2011 Census

Population

2001 Census

Population

1 Pamuru Census Town 20,000 15,245
2 Yerragondapalem Grama Panchayat 19,398 15,269
3 Parchur Grama Panchayat 13,375 13,379
4 Santhamaguluru Grama Panchayat 9,687 7,916
5 Bestavaripeta Grama Panchayat 7,606 6,526
6 Maddipadu Grama Panchayat 6,480 4,713
7 Tarlupadu Grama Panchayat 5,628 5,458
8 Kondapi Grama Panchayat 4,928 4,393
Census Towns in Prakasam District.
S.No. Town Civic status of town 2011 Census

Population

2001 Census

Population

1 Singarayakonda Census Town 19,400 16,686

2. Cumbum Census Town 15,169

  • Vetapalem is included in Chirala town's population.

Transport[edit]

The total road length of state highways in the district is 1,184 km (736 mi).[19] The district is well connected by National highways, state highways and district roads as well. The NH 16 passes through Ongole which is the major highway connecting HowrahChennai, a part of Asian Highway Network AH45. APSRTC, a state government public bus transport operates services.

The district has a rail network of 406 km (252 mi). The entire rail network is under South Central Railway zone. Ongole is one of the main stations of this district and most of the stations are under Vijayawada railway division.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, has granted site clearance for setting up of a Greenfield Airport at Ongole.[citation needed]

Notable personalities[edit]

There are many noted people from the district including Tanguturi Prakasam, a freedom fighter who was also the Chief Minister of Andhra State and Chief Minister of Madras Presidency. Mirza Ghouse Baig, M.A.LL.B Retired District Judge a second world war veteran who led the mutiny against the Britishers at Ambala Cantt. U. Aswathanarayana who was a Director of the Mahadevan International Centre for Water Resources Management in India. From the film industry personalities include Bhanumathi Ramakrishna was a film actress who was also a producer, director and singer. D. Ramanaidu, film producer; Tottempudi Krishna, film director and editor; Giri Babu, film actor; Raghu Babu, film actor and comedian in Telugu cinema; Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, comedian in Telugu cinema. Pullela Gopichand, an all-england champion and national badminton coach; Yarlagadda Nayudamma is a consultant paediatric surgeon. He is the only Indian surgeon to have successfully separated three sets of Conjoined Twins fused at three different locations – head, thorax-abdomen and pelvis; Former HRD Minister in the UPA 2 government Daggubati Purandeswari daughter of N. T. Rama Rao and is married to Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, GVL Narsimha Rao are nationally visible faces from the villages in the district. Artists family of Thimmiri Narasimharao,( Thimmiri naresh babu, (tollywood art director) thimmiri raveendra(secretary of srusti art academy) thimmiri bhanuchandar (artist), battula vani ( drawing teacher).

Education[edit]

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the state's School Education Department.[20][21] As per the school information report for the academic year 2015–16, there are a total of 4,311 schools. They include, 33 government, 2,949 mandal and zilla parishads, 1 residential, 1079 private, 10 model, 37 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), 50 municipal and 152 other types of schools.[22] The total number of students enrolled in primary, upper primary and high schools of the district are 562,510.[23] The total number of students enrolled in primary, upper primary and high schools of the district are 461,065.[23]

References[edit]

  1. "Days after assuming office, Jagan rejigs administration in AP". Asian News International. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  2. "West Godavari district profile". Andhra Pradesh State Portal. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  3. "New 'AP 39' code to register vehicles in Andhra Pradesh launched". The New Indian Express. Vijayawada. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. "Mandals in Prakasam district". AP State Portal. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Prakasam dist". AP state portal. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  6. "District info" (PDF). apind.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  7. Law, Gwillim (25 September 2011). "Districts of India". Statoids. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  8. "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Seram 17,454
  9. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "District Census Handbook – Prakasam" (PDF). Census of India. pp. 16–17, 48. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Economy of Prakasam District". Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  12. "Brief Industrial Profile of Prakasam District" (PDF). Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India. Development Commissioner (MSME). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Geology and Mineral Resources of Prakasam District". Department of mines and geology, Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  14. Subba Reddy, V. V. (2009). Temples of South India. ISBN 9788121210225. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  15. Staff Reporter. "Devotees throng rock cut cave temples at Bhairavakona". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  16. Chatterjee, Badri (1 December 2020). "Four sites in India get World Heritage Irrigation Structure tag". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  17. "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations and UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  18. "Prakasam District". About District > Administrative Setup > Mandals list. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  19. "Existing State Highways" (PDF). Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  20. "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  21. "The Department of School Education – Official AP State Government Portal". www.ap.gov.in. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  22. "School Information Report". Commissionerate of School Education. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  23. 23.0 23.1 "Student Information Report". Commissionerate of School Education. Child info 2015–16, District School Education – Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2016.

External links[edit]

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