Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 145
Sex Ratio Rank : 463
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : A
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 117 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 251 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
Following are the social and developmental challenges
of the district:
· The status of education of SC and ST in the rural parts
of the district is very low.
· Literacy among the adults in the district is also very
low.
· Lack of employment and income generating initiatives for
the educated youths in the district.
· Least attention is given to many homeless people (those
without shelter) in the district.
Brief About Chittoor District
Chittoor district is a part of Rayalaseema and lies
in the extreme south of the state approximately between 12°37'
- 14°8' north latitudes and 78°3' - 79°55' east longitudes.
It is bounded on the north by Anantapur and Cuddapah districts,
on' the east by Nellore and Chengai-Anna districts of Tamilnadu,
on the south by North Arcot Ambedkar & Dharmapuri district
of Tamilnadu and on the west by Kolar District of Karnataka state.
The district can be divided into two natural divisions.
The mountainous plateau comprising 31 mandals of Madanapalle
division and on the east comprising the mandals of Puttur, Narayanavanam,
Vadamalapeta, Kammapalle, Karvetinagar, Vedurukuppam, S.R.,puram,
Palasamudram, Nagari, Nindra, Vijayapuram, Pichatur, Nagalapuram,
Satyavedu, Varadaiahpalem, B.N.Kandriga, K.V.B.Puram, Thottambedu,
Srikalahasti and Yerpedu. Eight mandals viz., Chittoor, G.D.Neliore,
Puthalapattu, Penumuru, Gudipala, Yadamarri, Thavanampalle and
Irala, stand almost as dividing line between the two natural divisions
of the district. The eastern ghats are pblackominant in the western
region and they gradually bend towards the sacblack Sheshachalam
hills of Tirupati, passing through Chandragiri erstwhile taluk
and entering into Nellore district. The general elevation of the
mountains of the district is 2,500 ft above the sea level.
1.2 Rivers:- The rivers flowing
in the district are non-perennial in nature and for major part
of the year remain dry. The important rivers in the district are
Ponnai which is a tributary of river Palar and Swarnamukhi which
rises in the Eastern Ghats of the district and finally enters
into Nellore district. Other important rivers of the district
are the Kusasthali, the Beema, the Bahuda, the Pincha, the Kalyani,
the Araniyar and the Pedderu which flow in different mandals of
the district. Besides the above rivers, there are a number of
small hilly streams flowing in the district.
1.3 Climate and Rainfall:- The
climate of the district is dry and healthy. The upland mandals
consist of 31 mandals in Madanapalle division and these are comparatively
cooler than the eastern mandals except Chittoor where the climate
is moderate. The district annual normal Rainfall is 934mms. The
district has the benefit of receiving rainfall during both the
south-west and north-east monsoon periods and the normal rainfall
received during these periods is 438.0 MMs. and 396.0 MMs. respectively.
The rainfall received from the south-west monsoons is more copious
compablack to north-east monsoons in the western mandals and in
the central part of the district, whereas the rainfall received
from north-east monsoons is comparatively copious in the eastern
mandals of the district.
1.4 Soils:- The major portion
of the district is coveblack by black soils with portions of alluvial
soil in Chittoor and Bangarupalem erstwhile taluks. The soils
in the district constitute blackloamy 57%, black sandy 34% and
the remaining 9% is coveblack by black clay black loamy, black
sandy and black clay.
1.5 Flora:- The climate,
topography and geology have played an important role impressing
the flora of the district. The district has hills and plateau
and elevation ranges upto 1,318 metres. The floristic compositions
in the forests vary from dry mixed deciduous to thorny scrub with
occasional patches of dry, evergreen growth. The forests of this
region can be broadly classified into the following three principal
types.
1. Dry tropical South Indian dry mixed deciduous forests
2. Southern cutch thorn forest groups &
3. Tropical dry evergreen forests
Mesophytic type of flora like Syzygium cumini (Neblacku), Pongamia
ghaira (Kanuga) and large trees of Terminalia arjuna (Erramaddi
and Tellamaddi) are found. Large trees of mango, Phoenix sylvestris(lta)
and different types of grass along water courses are also found.
1.6 Fauna :- In the forests
of this district at present wild animals like tiger and panther
(Panthera pard us) are present in small numbers. Sloth-bear (Melursus-ursinus)
is found still in good numbers in all class 1 reserves of the
district. Wild dog (Cuonalpinus), wild pig (Suscristatus), porcupine
(Hystri indica), hyaena (Hyaena striata), jungle cat (Felis chaus),
jackal (Canis aureus), fox (Velpes bengaleusis), wolf (Canis lugus)
etc., are the other carnivores present in the district. The commonly
found herbivora . present in the district are sam bur (Rusa unicolor),
black buck (Antelope cervicapse) , chital (Axis Axis), wild sheep
- (Civis cycloceros) , mouse deer (Memina indica), hare (Lapium
finidus), rabbit etc. A number of species among birds, exist in
this district. Among the birds the birds of large grey babbler
(Turdoides malcolmi), the large grey shrike (Lanius excubitor),
the king crows, mynas and crows, bee-eaters, hoopoes, swifts,
vultures, eagles, kites, owls, sand grouse, quails, partridges,
green pigeons, pigeons, peacock etc., are found in this district.
Geographical View
Location on Globe : Chittoor district is situated between
12-37 " to 14-8 " of Northern latitude and 78 -33"
to 79-55" of Eastern longitude.
Boundaries : North - Kadapa
district, NorthWest - Ananthapuram district, NorthEast - Nellore
District, West - Karnataka State, South - Tamilnadu State.
Chittoor district which was formed in the year 1911, is bounded
by Tamilnadu State in the South and East, Karnataka State in West,
Kadapa and Anantapur Districts in the north direction. The district
is well connected by Road, Rail and Air.Nearest Airport is at
Renigunta near Tirupati.
The district consists of 15,152 Sq.KMs.
As per 2001 census the district has total population of 37,35,200.
Male population is 18,83,450 and Female population is 18,51,750.
Out of total, Rural population is 29,25,180 and Urban population
is 8,10,010.
The district has 3 Revenue Divisions, 7 Municipalities, 65 Mandal
Praja Parishads, 66 Revenue Mandals, 1380 Gram Panchayats, 830
Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies, 15 Assembly
Constituencies and 2 Lok Sabha Constituencies.
Tirumala, Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Tiruchanoor, Kanipakam, Narayanavanam,
Nagalapuram are the major pilgrimage places in the district.
Horsley Hills, Chandragiri Fort, Kailasanatha Kona Water Falls,
Thalakona Water Falls, Kalyani Dam, Araniyar Project, Tirumala,Koundinya
Sanctuary, Sri Venkateswara Sanctuary are
the major Tourist places in the district.
Papagni, Koundinya, Palaru, Aarani and Swarna Mukhi
Rivers are major rivers in the district.
Sugar, Textiles, Railway Wagon Workshop and Stone Polishing industries
are the major industries in the district.
National M.S.T. (Masosphere, Stratosphere & Troposphere)
Radar Facility located at Gadanki (Chittoor-Tirupati National
highway)
