| Voice of Sambalpur :
G.S.Mund

Sambalpur District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 6657.0 Km2
Population in Sambalpur(Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 1,044,410
Male : 529,424
Female : 514,986
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 28283
In seeing : 14408
In speech : 1925
In hearing : 2294
In movement : 7057
Mental : 2599
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 64
Sex Ratio Rank : 416
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 327 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 242 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
District affected by Left Wing Extremism

Brief About Sambalpur District
Sambalpur has a history full of events including
Indian Freedom Struggle representing the different section of society.
For the sake of convenience, however, the history, with special
reference to the spark and fire and Nationalism, may be stated briefly.
History has to say that Samudragupta in the 4th
century, defeated King Mahendra of Koshala, the kingdom that included
Sambalpur. During the 5th and 6th centuries
Sambalpur came under the rule of Sarbhapuriyas. Towards the 7th
century it passed in to the hands of Panduvansi king Trivaradeva.
Towards the close of 9th century king Janmajaya I Mahabhavagupta
extended his empire which comprised the modern districts of Sambalpur
and Bolangir. Hence forward, his dynasty came to be known as the
Samavansi dynasty. During the last part of the Samavansi rule, Sambalpur
was occupied by the Kalachuris of Ratnapua. The 13th
century saw a bitter fight between the Kalachuris and the Gandas.
Later on, the Gandas occupied Sambalpur.
During the middle of the 14th century
Ramai Dev laid the foundation of the Chauhan rule in Western Orissa.
However, the Chowhan rule came to a close in april,1800, when Sambalpur
was occupied by the Marathas. After the British occupied Orissa
and bitterness between the British and Marathas ripened, the former
found a convenient route via Sambalpur and annihilated the Marathas.
Sambalpur was occupied by the British on 2nd January,
1804. Finally it passed on to the Brithish in 1817. The subsequent
years witnessed the movements of the Kandhas and Binjhal Zamidars
against the British and their poppet ruler in Sambalpur was Rani
Mohan Kumari. Although the modern concept of nationalism was not
activating force, one could see the spirit of freedom and hatred
of foreign rule reflected in the struggle. The period recorded the
heroic sage of Surendra Sai. (Most renowned freedom fighter from
Western Orissa).
Sambalpur district, the western most district of
Orissa, had been named after the headquarters town, Sambalpur. According
to Mr. L.S.S.O. Maller, the town derived its name from the presiding
goddess Samalai, whose stone image was discovered by Balaram Dev,
the first Chowhan king of Sambalpur.
The erstwhile Sambalpur District was divided into four districts
namely Sambalpur, Bargarh,Jharsuguda and Deogarh in pursuance of
Revenue & Excise Department Resolution No 14993/R Dtd 31.03.93
and Resolution No 56413/R Dtd 22.12.93.Bargarh district comprising Bargarh and Padampur
Subdivision started functioning with effect from 1.4.1993.Jharsuguda
and Deogarh District started functioning w.e.f. 1.1.94.
GEOGRAPHY
Sambalpur district lies between 20°
40’ N and 22°
11’ N latitude, 82°
39’ E and 85°
15’ E longitude with a toal area of 6,702 Sq. Kms. The district
is surrounded by Deogarh district in the east, Bargarh and Jharsuguda
districts in the west, Sundergarh district in the north and Subarnpur
and Angul districts in the South. The district has three distinctive
physiographic units such as, Hilly Terrain of Bamra and Kuchinda
in the north, plateau and ridges of Rairakhol in the south-east
and valley and plains of Sambalpur Sub-division in the south east.
Sambalpur district experiences extreme type of climate with 66 rainy
days and 153 centimeters rainfall on an average per annum. Most
of the rainfall is confined to the months from June to October visited
by south west monsoon. Mercury rises upto 47°
celcius during May with intolerable heat wave and falls as low as
11.8°
celcius during December with extreme cold. The rainfall is highly
uneven and irregular
The district forms a part of the Mahanadi River
basin. The Mahanadi, the longest river of the state, entered into
the district in the north western border, where the famous Hirakud
Multipurpose Dam Project is built. Other important rivers of the
district are the Maltijor, the Harrad, the Kulsara, the Bheden,
and the Phuljharan. The district has a total forest area of 3986.27
Sq. Kms. which is 59.46% of the total area of the district. Total
land under cultivation in the district is 173540 hectares. Most
of the villages of the district are inaccessible during the rainy
season. Presence of a number of nallas without bridges cuts off
the villages from the nearby roads. The district is served by National
Highway No.6, National Highway No.42, Major district roads and a
section of South Eastern Railways. Rural electrification has been
extended to 63.6% of the villages of the district. Telecommunication
Network is not adequate to cater to the needs the people in the
rural areas. Drinking water facilities are available in villages
mostly from the sources of tubewells.
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