| Voice of Palakkad :
Mr. Prithviraj
Palakkad District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 4480.0 Km2
Population in Palakkad (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 28,10,892
Male : 13,60,067
Female : 14,50,825
Under 6 population
Total : 2,88,366
Male : 1,46,947
Female : 1,41,419
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 65329
In seeing : 27264
In speech : 5298
In hearing : 6329
In movement : 17274
Mental : 9164
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 375
Sex Ratio Rank : 568
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 77 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 25 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Brief About Palakkad District
Palakkad is one of the fourteen revenue districts
of Kerala. Its geographical position, historical background, rural
natural, educational status, tourist attractions and above all,
the developmental activities that are carried out, are wide and
varied.
This district, situated almost in the centre of
State, has no coastal line. The district opens the State to the
rest of the country through the Palakkad gap. This 32 to 40 kms.
wide natural gap in the 960 kms. long Western Ghats is perhaps the
most influential factor for the unique characteristics of the district
such as climate, commercial as well as cultural exchanges between
the State and the rest of the country. Palakkad witnessed invasions
of historical importance that have left indelible impressions on
the history of Kerala. Bharathappuzha, the longest river in Kerala,
originates from the highlands and flows through the entire district.
The district is one of the main granaries of Kerala
and its economy is primarily agricultural. Agriculture engages more
than 65 per cent of the workers and 88.9 per cent of the district's
population is rural in nature. The proximity and easy approach to
Tamil Nadu have caused the admixture of Malayalam and Tamil culture,
here.
The district is perhaps the foremost in fostering
Carnatic music. Great musicians like Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar
and Palakkad Mani Iyer, who have enriched Carnatic music by their
contributions, hailed from this district.
Forests, numerous streams, several dams and the
gardens in them have made this district a tourist paradise.
Palakkad is part of the erstwhile Malabar district
of Madras Presidency. The district accounts for about 11.5 per cent
of the total land area of Kerala, with the share of population is
8.22 per cent. The district has got two types of climates. Ottappalam,
Alathur and Mannarkkad Taluks are having a climate similar to that
of other districts of Kerala, whereas Palakkad and Chittur are having
rather a dry climate similar to TamilNadu. However the average rainfall
is good for cultivation. There are five taluks, 163 villages , four
Municipal towns and ninety Panchayaths in the district. The district
is divided into 13 community Development Blocks for the effective
implementation of various development activities.
Palakkad is the land of Palmyrahs and Paddy fields.
Along with Kuttanadu, Palakkad is major paddy growing area of the
state. It is often called as the "gateway of Kerala". The Sahya
Ranges bordering the region and the 32 to 40 km. long gap in the
mountains exert a dominant influence on the climate of the region.
This gap is known as 'Palakkad Gap'. In the past, this land was
known as Palkkattussery. Etymologists trace the word Palakkad from
Palanilam meaning the dry area. Palakkad has a long history dating
back to the paleolithic period which was substantiated by a number
of megalithic relics discovered from this region. It also housed
the Capitals of two kingdoms such as Palakkad and Kollengode, which
were in prominence till a century back.
Location
Palakkad district is situated in the South West
Coast of India, bounded on the North by Malappuram in the East by
Coimbatore of Tamilnadu, in the South by Thrissur and in the West
by Thrissur and Malappuram districts. It lies between 10'21 and
11'14 North latitude and 76'02 and 76'54 East longitude. The total
geographical area of the district is 4480 sq.k.m representing 11.53
per cent of the State's geographical area. The forest land per cent
covers 136257 hectares.
Topographically the district can be divided into
two regions.
Based on the physical features, the district is
divided into two natural divisions - midland and highland. The midland
region consists of valleys and plains. It leads up to the highland
which consists of high mountain peaks, long spurs, extensive ravines,
dense forests and tangled jungles. Midland is thick with coconut,
arecanut, cashew, pepper, rubber and paddy cultivation.The soil
is laterite in the hill and mid land regions. Ottappalam taluk lies
completely in the midland and highland regions. The road and rail
links between Kerala and Tamil Nadu pass through the Palakkad gap.
The Western Ghats has an average altitude of 5000
ft. except for two peaks of more than 6000 ft. The important peaks
above an altitude of 4000 ft. are Anginda (7628 ft.), Karimala (6556
ft.), Nellikotta or Padagiri (5200 ft.) and Karimala Gopuram (4721
ft.)
Population
According to the 2001 census the population of
the district is 2617072. The density of the population is 584 per
Sq. km. Decadal growth rate for the period 1991-2001 is 9.86 per
cent in comparison with the State figures of + 9.42 per cent. The
sex ratio of the district is 1068 females for 1000 males. The District
has achieved 84.31 per cent literacy in 2001 calculated on the basis
of population above the age of 7 years.
Climate
The district has a humid climate with a very hot
season extending from March to June in the Western Part of the district
whereas it is less humid in the Eastern sector. The most important
rainy season is during South West Monsoon which sets the second
week of June and extends upto September. About 75 per cent of the
annual rain is received during the south west monsoon period. During
the period December to May, practically no rain is received. The
temperature of the district ranges from 20'C to 45'C. The maximum
temperature recorded at Palakkad was 43'C.
Soil
The soil of Palakkad district is mainly of four
types, namely, peaty (kari), laterite, forest and black . Peaty
soil is found only in Thrithala firka of Ottappalam taluk. Laterite
is seen in the major portions of all taluks. Forest soil is confined
to Mannarghat and Ottappalam taluks, the narrow strip of land along
the western boundaries of Palakkad and Alathur taluks and along
the southern boundary of Chittur taluk. Black soil is seen mostly
in the eastern sector of Chittur taluk and a small portion of Palakkad
taluk.
|
