| Dadra Nagar Haveli
Geographical Area : 487
Population in 2001 : 2 20 490
Estimated population in 2025 : 1 31 000
Provisional Numbers in Census 2011
Dadra Nagar Haveli population as percentage of India :
0.03%
Population in 2011 : 3 42 853
Males 1 93 178
Females 1 49 675
Sex ratio : 775
Under 6 Sex ratio : 924
Number of Districts : 1
Number of habitated villages : 70
Capital
Silvassa
Principal Languages
Gujarati, Hindi
History and Geography
After prolonged skirmishes between the Portuguese and the Marathas,
on 17 December, 1779, the Maratha Government assigned the aggregated
revenue of Rs 12,000 in a few villages of this territory to the
Protuguese as compensation to ensure their friendship. The Portuguese
ruled this territory until its liberation by the people on 2 August,
1954. From 1954 till 1961, the territory functioned almost independently
by what was known as "Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli Administration".
However, the territory was merged with the Indian Union on 11 August,
1961, and since then, is being administered by the Government of
India as a Union Territory. After liberation of the territory from
Portuguese rule, a Varishtha Panchayat was working as an advisory
body of the Administration. This was dissolved in August 1989, and
a Pradesh Council for Dadra and Nagar Haveli District Panchayat
and 11 Village Panchayats were constituted as per constitutional
amendments at All India level. The UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli
has an area of 491 sq km, and it is surrounded by Gujarat and Maharashtra.
It consists of two pockets namely, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The nearest
railway station is at Vapi, which is 18 km from Silvassa.
Agriculture
Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a predominantly rural area with about
79 per cent tribal population. It has about 21,115 hectares under
cultivation. Major crop is paddy (Kharif) while Nagli and other
hill millets are crops of the area. Among fruits Mango, Chiku and
Banana, etc., are also produced. Forests cover 40 per cent of the
total geographical area.
Sugarcane cultivation has also been taken up in a big way since
the last few years. And efforts are afoot to adopt a multiple cropping
system in assured irrigated areas. During 2006-07, 87 MT of H.Y.V.
seeds were distributed to 2211 farmers along with 1407 M.T. of chemical
fertilizers to 6449 farmers. The organic farming scheme will shortly
be implemented in Dudhani and Mandoni patelads. To this end, 60
Kisan Credit Cards have been issued.
The Wadi Development programme in the tribal area of both Dadra
and Nagar Haveli is implemented by the N.G.O., B.A.I.F. with the
financial allocation from NABARD, a total of 800 tribal and scheduled
caste families will benefit.
Irrigation and Power
Prior to liberation of the territory, there was no irrigation facility
and cultivators had to fully depend upon rainfall. After the merger
of the territory with the Indian Union, adequate steps were taken
under minor irrigation sector. So far 128 lift irrigation schemes
have been completed on irrigation wells, surface water sources like
rivers; check dams at various places in the territory crearing additional
irrigation potential of 1,851 hectares. Under medium irrigation
project viz., Damnganga Reservoir Project, about 115 km of minor
canals and distributaries are falling in the area of this Union
Territory. Development works have been completed in field channels
in all respects in 4,300 hectares and testing is done in 4,049 hectares.
There was no rural electrification prior to liberation of this
territory. The electricity was provided with only one DG Set which
was installed and operated in Silvassa Town for VIPs at Circuit
House.
After liberation, the UT Administration commenced rural electrification
work with the co-operation of neighbouring State of Gujarat and
completed electrification work in 25 villages by 1976. The power
demand of the UT is met by Gujarat Electricity Board through a single
Circuit from Vapi-Silvasa and distributed amongst limited number
of consumers. The first 66 KV Sub-Station was established at Amli
in 1979. With the commissioning of the said Sub-Station, the electricity
department is in a position to provide electricity to all villages.
One more 220/66 KV, 2x160 MVA sub-station at village Khadoli has
been approved by the Ministry of Power. The Power Grid Corporation
of India will execute this work, which is likely to be completed
within three years. In addition to this, a proposal for the establishment
of various 66/11 KV sub-stations at Vaghdhara, Athal, Piparia, Sayli,
Velugam etc is in the pipeline.
The Power requirement of the territory is being met from Central
Sector Power Generating Stations located in the western region.
At present the power allocation from the Central Sector is 270 MW.
The power demand has increased tremendously due to rapid industrialisation
with the extension of Tax Holiday benefit to this UT by the Government
of India.
Transport
The Union Territory depends heavily on Maharashtra and Gujarat road
network as the territory can be accessed only after crossing these
two States from Mumbai. At present road length is about 635 km.
out of which 570 km. is surfaced. Almost all villages are connected
with all weather roads. The rail route from Mumbai to Ahmadabad
links Vapi also. Mumbai is the nearest airport. Recently, the work
of widening of roads in the Union Territory has been taken up to
meet the requirement of increasing vehicular traffic.
To meet the need of rapid industrialisation, four-laning work has
been taken up in Silvassa and adjoining areas, besides other spill
over works. Converting of two lane road to four lane road for a
length of 17.69 kms has been completed. The Dadra - Tighra road
is under progress and during the current financial year i.e. 2007-08,
another 5.70 kms length of road connecting Silvasa and Naroli is
likely to be converted into a four-lane drive.
Festivals
Normally, all festivals of Hindus, Muslims and Christians are celebrated
in the territory, while tribals celebrate their own festivals. Diwaso
is celebrated by Dhodia and Varli tribes, and Raksha Bandhan is
celebrated by Dhodia tribe. Other festivals include Bhawada amongst
Varlist, Koli tribes and Khali Puja by all tribes after harvesting
of crops and Gram Devi before harvesting of crops
Tourism
Tourism sector has been assigned high priority, keeping in view
the dense forest area and favourable climate. The prominent places
of tourist interest are Tadekeshwar Shiva Mandir, Bindrabin, Deer
Park at Khanvel, Vanganga Lake and Island Garden, Dadra, Vanvihar
Udhyan Mini Zoo, Bal Udhyan, Tribal Museum, and Hirvavan Garden
at Silvassa. To encourage tourism activities, some traditional and
modern cultural activities like celebration of Tarpa Festival, Kite
festival, World Tourism day, etc., are organised every year.
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