| Voice of Alappuzha :
Anil Kumar
High degree of unemployment despite of good education.
Women still need to be empowered.
Economically poor.
Water shortage.
Health infrastructure needs to be upgraded.
Alappuzha District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 1 414.0 Km2
Population in Alappuzha (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 21,21,943
Male : 10,10,252
Female : 11,11,691
Under 6 population
Total : 1,86,022
Male : 95,556
Female : 90,466
Disabled population
Total Disabled Population : 63539
Blind : 25530
Dumb : 4782
Deaf : 5520
Physical : 18505
Mental : 9202
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 432
Sex Ratio Rank : 105
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : A
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 87 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 6 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Alappuzah District Information
History
Alappuzha is a Land Mark between the broad Arabian sea and a
net work of rivers flowing into it. In the early first decade of
the 20th Century the then Viceroy of the Indian Empire, Lord Curzon
made a visit in the State to Alleppey, now Alappuzha. Fascinated
by the Scenic beauty of the place, in joy and amazement, he said,
“Here nature has spent up on the land her richest bounties”. In
his exhilaration, it is said, he exclaimed, “Alleppey, the Venice
of the East”. Thus the sobriquet found its place in the world
Tourism Map. The presence of a port and a pier, criss -cross roads
and numerous bridges across them, a long and unbroken sea coast
might have motivated him to make this comparison.
Alleppey
has a wonderful past. Though the present town owes its existence
to the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of
18th century, district of Alappuzha figures in classified Literature.
Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy
fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms ,
was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History
says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and
Rome in B.C and in the Middle Ages.
Carved
out of erstwhile Kottayam and Kollam (Quilon) districts, Alleppey
district was formed on 17th of August 1957.The name of the district
Alleppey, the anglicized form was changed as ‘Alappuzha’ as per
GO(P) No.133/90/RD dated 7.2.90. It is assumed that the name of
Alappuzha was derived by the geographical position and physical
features of the place which means ”the land between the sea
and the network of rivers flowing into it". As per GO (MS) No.1026/82/(RD)
dated 29.10.1982, Pathanamthitta district was newly constituted
taking portions from the then Alappuzha, Kollam and Idukki districts.
The area transferred from the erstwhile Alappuzha district to Pathanamthitta
district is Thiruvalla taluk as a whole and part of Chengannur and
Mavelikkara Taluks. Thus the present Alappuzha district comprises
of six taluks namely Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappllly,
Chengannur and Mavelikkara.
Palaeolithic
Age
The
history of the district in the palaeolithic age is obscure. It is
presumed that the coastal taluks of Cherthala. Ambalapuzha and Karthikappally
might have been under water and these areas were formed by the accumulation
of silt and sand later than the other parts of the district.
Kuttanad was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam
age. The early Cheras had their home in Kuttanad and they were called
'Kuttuvans' named after this place. Some archeological antiques
like stone inscriptions, historical monuments etc. found in the temples,
churches, rock-out caves etc., and literacy works like "Unninili Sandesam"
give some insight into the ancient period of this district.
The famous travelers Pliny and Ptolemy of the first and second centuries
had mentioned about places like Purakkad(Barace) in their classical
works. Christianity had a strong foot-hold in this district
even from the Ist century A.D. The church located at Kokkomangalam
or Kokkothamangalam was one of the seven churches founded by
St.Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. It is
generally believed that he landed at Maliankara in Muziris
Port, presently known as
Cranganore or Kodungallur in 52 A.D and preached Christianity in South
India. During 9th to 12th century AD the district flourished
in the field of religion and culture under the second Chera Empire.
The famous literary work of this period was ‘Ascharya Choodamani’
a Sanskrit drama written by Sakthibhadra who was a scholar of Chengannur
gramam.16th
Century
During
16th century small principalities like Kayamkulam (presently Karthikappally
and Mavelikkara taluks), Purakkad which was often called Ambalappuzha
or Chempakasseri(present Ambalappuzha and Kuttanad taluk) and Karappuram
comprising of two principalities called Moothedath and Iledath (present
Cherthala Taluk) emerged into power. In the same period the Portugese
came into prominence in the political scene of the district.
Christianity became popular in all parts of the district and they
built several churches of which Churches located at Purakkad and Arthungal
are well known. The kingdom
of Chempakasseri was at
its zenith during the reign of Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayana, a great
scholar and a poet who was the author of ‘Vedantha Retnamala’, a commentary
on the first verse of Bhagavat Geetha. It is said that Sreekrishna
Swami temple
at Ambalappuzha was constructed and the idol of Lord Krishna installed
during that time. It is believed that Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri,
Sri Neelakanta Deekshithar and Sri Kumaran Namboothiri were eminent
scholars who patronized his court. 17th
Century
In
the 17th century the Portugese power declined and the Dutch had
a predominant position in the principalities of this district.
As a result of several treaties signed between the Dutch and the
Rajas of Purakkad, Kayamkulam and Karappuram, the Dutch built factories
and warehouses in various places of the district for storing pepper,ginger
etc. In course of time they inferred in the political and cultural
affairs of the district. It was at that time Maharaja Marthandavarma,
the ‘Maker of modern Travancore’ interfered in the political affairs
of those principalities. The annexation of the Kingdoms of Kayamkulam,
Ambalappuzha, Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur and Karappuram to travancore
gave the Dutch a setback from the political scene of the district.
Marthandavarma Maharaja had a remarkable role in the internal progress
of the district. He gave special attention to the development
of Mavelikkara as an administrative as well as a commercial centre.
The Krishnapuram plalace, which is now a protected monument of the
State Archaeology department, was constructed during that period.
It was at that time that the great and talented poet Kunjan Nambiar
was installed in the court at Trivandrum.Modern
Alleppey
During
the reign of Dharmaraja the district was improved by all means.
Raja Kesava Das, the then Diwan of Travancore who was known as the
‘Maker of modern Alleppey’ made Alappuzha a premier port town of
Travancore. He constructed
several roads and canals to improve communications and built warehouses.
He gave all facilities to merchants and traders from far and near.
During the reign of Balaramavarma Maharaja, Velu Thampi Dalava took
keen interest in the development of the town and port. He brought
the whole area of the island Pathiramanal under coconut cultivation
and large tracts under paddy cultivation. The role of Velu
Thampi Dalava in the development of Alappuzha is worth mentioning.
In the 19th century the district attained progress in all spheres.
One of the five subordinate courts opened in the state in connection
with the reorganization of the judicial system by Colonel Munro
was located at Mavelikkara. The credit of having the first
post office and first telegraph office in the erstwhile Travancore
state goes to this district. The first modern factory for
the manufacture of coir mats and mattings was also established in
1859 at Alappuzha. The town Improvement Committee was set up in
1894.Freedom
Struggle
This district had a prominent role in the freedom struggle of the
country. The campaign for the eradication of untouchability
was organized much earlier in this district by T.K. Madhavan,
a fearless journalist and in 1925 the approach roads to the temples,
especially to Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swami temple were thrown
open to the Hindus of all castes. The district also witnessed
the ‘Nivarthana’ movement which was started as a protest against
the constitutional repression of 1932. the first political
strike in Kerala was held at Alappuzha in 1938.
Punnapra-Vayalar
The
historic struggles of Punnapra and Vayalar in 1946 stiffened the
attitude of the people against Sir C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer, Diwan of
Travancore, which ultimately led to his exit from the political
scene of Travancore. After India became independent, a popular
Ministry was formed in Travancore on 24th March, 1948 and on Ist
July 1949 Travancore and Cochin states were integrated and the position
continue till the formation of Kerala State on Ist November
1956 as per the States Reorganization Act 1956. The
district came into existence as a separate administrative unit on
Ist August 1957.
The
district has a network of rivers,canals and backwaters.
Manimala,
Pampa and Achancovil are the major rivers.
Manimala
River
Originates
from Mothavara hills in Kottayam district enters the district at
Thalavadi village in Kuttanad taluk and passes through Edathua and
Champakulam villages and joins the Pamba river at Muttar.The villages
of Manimala, Mallappally, Kaviyoor, Kalloppara, Thalavadi, Kozhimukku
and Champakkulam lies in the course of the river Manimala. It has
a length of 91.73 Km and drainage area of 802.90 Km.
Pamba
River
Pamba,
the third longest river in Kerala is formed by several streams originating
from Peerumedu plateau in Idukki district, enters Alappuzha district
at Chengannur and flows through Pandanad, Veeyapuram, Thakazhy,
and Champakulam through a distance about 177.08 Km and plunges
into vembanad lake through several branches such as Pallathuruthi
Ar, Nedumudi Ar and Muttar. The river has a length of 117
Km and is navigable to a length of 73 Km.. The catchment area of
this river is 1987.17 Sq.Km. The main tributaries of the river
are Pambayar, Kakki Ar, Arudai Ar, kakkad Ar and Kallar.
Achankovil
River
This
river often known as Kulallada river, originates from
Pasukida mettu, Ramakkal Theri and Rishimalai of Kollam district
enters the district at Venmony and has a catchment area of
1155.14 Sq.Kms and a marginable length of 32.19 Km. Passes through
Cheriyanad, Puliyoor and Chengannur villages, enters Mavelikkara
Taluk at Chennithala, flows through Thriperumthura and pallippad
villages and joins Pamba at Veeyapuram.
Back
Waters
Vembanad
Lake
The
Vembanad lake, the most important of the west coast canal system
has a length of 84 Km and an average breadth of 3.1 Km. It covers
an area of 204 Sq.Km. Stretching from Alappuzha to Kochi. Borders
Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Kuttanad Taluks of Alappuzha district,
Kottayam, vaikom and Changanasserry taluks of Kottayam district
and Kochi and Kanayannur Taluks of Ernakulam district. Pamba, Achankovil
, Manimala, Meenachil and Muvattupuzha rivers discharge into this
lake. Pathiramanal, often called the mysterious sand of midnight,
having coconut palms and luxuriant vegetation is situated in the
centre of this lake. Perumbalam and Pallippuram are the other
islands in this lake. The Thannermukkom regulator constructed
across Vembanad lake between Thannermukkom and Vechur is intended
to prevent tidal action and intrusion of saline water into the lake.
It is the largest mud regulator in India.
Kayamkulam
Lake
Stretching
between Panmana and Karthikappally, Kayamkulam lake is a shallow
lake which has an outlet to sea at Kayamkulam barrage. It has an
area of 59.57 Sq.Km., a length of 30.5 Km and an average breadth
of 2.4 Km. It connects Ashtamudi lake by the Chavara Panmana
canal.
Canals
Alappuzha
has a network of canals included in the west coast canal system
which are used for navigation. The important canals are Vadai
canal, Commercial canals and the link canals between these two canals.
Apart from these, there are many inland canals which are mainly
used for passenger navigation and commercial purposes.
The
lakes are used for inland water transport of passengers and cargo.
Inland fisheries have also been flourished in these regions.
Sea
Cost
Alappuzha
has a flat unbroken sea coast of 82 Km length which is 13.9 % of
the total coastal line of the state. An interesting phenomenon
of this seacoast during the month of June is the periodic shifting
of mud bank popularly known as "Chakara" within a range of 25 Km
in Alappuzha-Purakkad coast due to hydrolic pressure when the level
of backwater rises during south-west monsoon.
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