About Anantapur
Topography
Anantapur District lies between 13'-40' and 15'-15' Northern Latitude and 76'-50' and 78'-30' Eastern Longitude. It is bounded by Bellary, Kurnool District on the North, Cuddapah and Kolar Districts of Karnataka on South East and North respectively. The District is roughly oblong in shape, the longer side running North to South with a portion of Chitradurg District of Karnataka State intruding into it from west between Kundurpi and Amarapuram Mandals.
The District may be divided into 3 Natural Divisions. They are 1) Northern Mandal of Rayadurg, Kanekal, Beluguppa Gooty, Guntakal, Vajrakarur, Uravakonda, Vidapanakal, Yadiki, Tadipatri, Putlur and Yellanur containing larger areas of Black Cotton soils (2) Kalyandurg, Kambadur, Settur, Brahmasamudram, Ramagiri, Kanaganapalli, C.K.Palli, Dharmavaram, Bathalapalli, Tadimarri, Mudigubba, Anantapur, Kudair, Pamidi and Peddavadugur in the center which are mainly made up of arid Treeless, expense of poor Red Soils, (3) High Level Land of Penukonda, Roddam, Somandepalli, Hindupur, Lepakshi, Chilamathur, Madakasira, Rolla, Gudibanda and Agali which connects with Mysore plateau at higher elevation of the rest of the District. This part has average sandy red soils of normal productivity.
» Boundaries
It is bounded by Bellary, Kurnool District on the North, Cuddapah and Kolar District of Karnataka on South East and North respectively. The District is roughly OBLONG in shape, the longer side running North to South with a portion of Chitradurg District of Karnataka State intruding into it from west between Kundurpi and Amarapuram Mandals.
» Rainfall & Climate
The District of Anantapur has a fairly good elevation which provides the District with tolerable climate throughout the year. It has a gradual fall from the South North towards the valley of the Pennar in Peddavadugur, Peddapappur and Tadipatri Mandals. There is a gradual rise in Hindupur, Parigi, Lepakshi, Chilamathur, Agali, Rolla and Madakasira Mandals in the South to join the Karnataka Plateau where the average elevation is about 2000 feet is above the mean sea level. It is about 1100 feet at Anantapur and the lowest 900 feet is at Tadipatri.
The Geographical position of the Peninsula render it, the driest part of the State and hence, Agriculture conditions are more often precarious. Monsoons also evades this part due to its unfortunate location. Being far from the East coast, it does not enjoy the full benefits of North East Monsoons and being cut off by the high western Ghats, the South West Monsoon are also prevented from penetrating and punching the thirst of these parched soils. It is therefore seen, the district is deprived of both the monsoons and subjected to droughts due to bad seasons. The normal rainfall of the district is 553.0 MMs. by which it secures least rainfall when compared to Rayalaseema and other parts of Andhra Pradesh. The normal rainfall for the South West Monsoon period is 338.0 MMs. which forms about 61.2% of the total rainfall for the year. The failure of the rains in this South West monsoon period of June to September will lead the District to drought by failure of crops. The rainfall for North East monsoon period is 156.0 M.Ms. only, which forms 28.3% M.Ms. of the total rainfall for the year (October to December).
The other months are almost dry March, April and May are warm months when the normal daily maximum temperature ranges between 29.1 C to 40.3 C. November, December and January are cooler months when the temperature falls about 15.7 C, Hindupur, Parigi, Lepakshi, Chilamathur, Agali, Rolla and Madakasira Mandals being at High Elevation are more cooler than the rest of the Mandals in the District.
» Forests
The Forests in the District are thin and scanty. The Muchukota Hills about 35 KMs. in length, run from North of Gooty Town upto extreme Southern Corner of Tadipatri and Yadiki Mandals. Another line of Hills starts from West of Gooty Mandal and run 80 KMs. called by name Nagasamudram Hills. The Mallappakonda Range begins at Dharmavaram and runs into Karnataka State.
The Penukonda Range which starts in the South of Dharmavaram through Penukonda and Hindupur proceeds to Karnataka State.
In Madakasira, the hills divides Rolla and Agali Mandals into Southern and Northern portions.
There are numerous isolated Peaks and Rocky Clusters which are devoid of any vegetation. The height of some of these Hill Ranges are given below:
Mallappakonda four Miles to
North of Bukkapatnam
» Rivers
Pennar River
The important river in the District is Pennar. It has its origin in the Nandi Hills of Karnataka State where it is called "UTTARA PINAKINI" and enters this District in the extreme South of Hindupur Mandal and flows through Parigi, Roddam, Ramagiri, Kambadur, Kalyandurg, Beluguppa, Uravakonda,Vajrakarur,Pamidi, Peddavadugur, Peddapappur and Tadipatri Mandals and finally enters Cuddapah District.
Jayamangala
River which has its origin in Karnataka State enters this District in Parigi Mandal and joins Pennar River at Sangameswarampalli of Parigi Mandal.
Chitravathi River
Another significant river in the District is "CHITRAVATHI". Its origin is in Karnataka State . This river enters the District near Kodikonda village of Chilamathur Mandal and flows North over Rocky and Hilly uplands of Gorantla,Puttaparthi, Bukkapatnam, Kothacheruvu, C.K.Palli, Dharmavaram, Bathalapalli, Tadimarri and Yellanur Mandals and falls into Pennar River at Gandikota in Cuddapah District.
VEDAVATHI or HAGARI RIVER also an important one in the District has its origin in Karnataka State and flows through Gummagatta, Brahmasamudram, Beluguppa, Kanekal and D.Hirehal Mandals and enters Bellary District of Karnataka State. Bhairavanithippa Project (B.T.Project) constructed on this river.
Apart from these streams like KUSHAVATHI in Chilamathur Mandal, SWARNAMUKHI in Agali Mandal, MADDILER U in Nallamada, Kadiri and Mudigubba Mandals, PANDAMERU in Kanaganipalli, Raptadu, Anantapur B.K.Samudram and Singanamala Mandals, PAPAGNI in Tanakal Mandal are important water supply sources to various large and medium irrigation tanks in the district.
» Soils
The soils in Anantapur District are predominantly red except Kanekal, Bommanahal, Vidapanakal, Uravakonda, Vajrakarur, Guntakal, Gooty, Pamidi, Peddavadugur, Yadiki, Tadipatri, Yellanur, Peddapappur and Putlur mandals. In these Mandals red and black soils occur almost in equal proportion. Thus 76% red soils, 24% are black soils.
»Population
There are 929 inhabited villages, out of 964 total Revenue villages of the District. The number of villages in size group of 500 to 1999 forms 36.71% of the total inhabited villages . The size group of 2000 to 4999 forms 38.64% and the size group of 5000 to 9999 forms 12.81% only out of total villages, while 84 villages ( 9.04%) of total inhabited villages are having population less than 500. There are 26 villages with more than 10000 population excluding Towns.
There are 10 Towns in Anantapur District as per 2001 Census. The following Table gives the growth of population of towns from 1991 to 2001.
The density of population of the District is 190 per Sq. K.M, against (277) of the State. The population of Rural and Urban to the total population of the District work out to 75% and 25% in 2001 Census as against 76.5% and 23.5% of 1991 Census. There are 958 Females per 1000 Males in 2001 Census.
The working force in the total population of District forms 48.83% as per 2001 census out of which 26% are in the Agriculture Sector.
»Land Utilisation
The total geographical area of the district is 19.13 lakh Hects. The land utilisation pattern as available in the district during the year 2006-2007 is given in the tables. It can be seen from the table that the net area sown is 9.23 Lakh Hects., which forms 48.25% of the total area. The total cropped area is 9.75 Lakh Hects. Area sown more than once is 0.52 Lakh Hects.
The cultivated area of the District is 9.75 Lakh Hects. out of which 7.95 Lakh Hects. is under Kharif and 1.80 Lakh Hects., is under Rabi Season during the year 2006-2007.
The District occupies the lowest position in respect of Irrigation facilities with only 14.08% of the gross cropped area during 2006-2007.
Out of the gross irrigated area of 1.37 Lakh Hects. during 2006-2007 canals accounted for 17.37%, tanks 1.36%, Tube wells 70.83%, wells 10.02% and other sources 0.42%. All the principal sources except canals are non-precarious.
»Natural Resources
ForestsThe District is not rich in the Forest Wealth. The name ' Forest' in Anantapur District does not indicate any dense tree population with thick foliage of variform of pastures.
»Mineral Resources
GoldAt Ramagiri village in Ramagiri mandal, Gold is found to occur in the Cholite Schist's and physlite along with western part of Dharwar Schist's Belt in the district. The place extends over a length of 14 kms Exploratory mining in the area is pruned about 467 meters of ore shoots with an average width of 100 CMS Tonne. Mining operations are expected to be conducted by Bharat Gold Mines Limited.
DiamondsDiamonds are know to be available near Vajrakarur. They mainly occur in pipe rocks.
Asbestos(Chrysolite variety Cross fibre type) Barytes High Grade Line Stones, Iron ore and steatite are the minerals occurring in the district. There are however no large sized minerals occurring in the district. There are 2 large scale Cement Factories (Ms. L&T Ltd., and Ms. Penna Cement Ltd.,) in Tadipatri Mandal and producing lakhs tonnes of cement in private sector.
Anantapur District lies between 13'-40' and 15'-15' Northern Latitude and 76'-50' and 78'-30' Eastern Longitude. It is bounded by Bellary, Kurnool District on the North, Cuddapah and Kolar Districts of Karnataka on South East and North respectively. The District is roughly oblong in shape, the longer side running North to South with a portion of Chitradurg District of Karnataka State intruding into it from west between Kundurpi and Amarapuram Mandals.
The District may be divided into 3 Natural Divisions. They are 1) Northern Mandal of Rayadurg, Kanekal, Beluguppa Gooty, Guntakal, Vajrakarur, Uravakonda, Vidapanakal, Yadiki, Tadipatri, Putlur and Yellanur containing larger areas of Black Cotton soils (2) Kalyandurg, Kambadur, Settur, Brahmasamudram, Ramagiri, Kanaganapalli, C.K.Palli, Dharmavaram, Bathalapalli, Tadimarri, Mudigubba, Anantapur, Kudair, Pamidi and Peddavadugur in the center which are mainly made up of arid Treeless, expense of poor Red Soils, (3) High Level Land of Penukonda, Roddam, Somandepalli, Hindupur, Lepakshi, Chilamathur, Madakasira, Rolla, Gudibanda and Agali which connects with Mysore plateau at higher elevation of the rest of the District. This part has average sandy red soils of normal productivity.
» Boundaries
It is bounded by Bellary, Kurnool District on the North, Cuddapah and Kolar District of Karnataka on South East and North respectively. The District is roughly OBLONG in shape, the longer side running North to South with a portion of Chitradurg District of Karnataka State intruding into it from west between Kundurpi and Amarapuram Mandals.
» Rainfall & Climate
The District of Anantapur has a fairly good elevation which provides the District with tolerable climate throughout the year. It has a gradual fall from the South North towards the valley of the Pennar in Peddavadugur, Peddapappur and Tadipatri Mandals. There is a gradual rise in Hindupur, Parigi, Lepakshi, Chilamathur, Agali, Rolla and Madakasira Mandals in the South to join the Karnataka Plateau where the average elevation is about 2000 feet is above the mean sea level. It is about 1100 feet at Anantapur and the lowest 900 feet is at Tadipatri.
The Geographical position of the Peninsula render it, the driest part of the State and hence, Agriculture conditions are more often precarious. Monsoons also evades this part due to its unfortunate location. Being far from the East coast, it does not enjoy the full benefits of North East Monsoons and being cut off by the high western Ghats, the South West Monsoon are also prevented from penetrating and punching the thirst of these parched soils. It is therefore seen, the district is deprived of both the monsoons and subjected to droughts due to bad seasons. The normal rainfall of the district is 553.0 MMs. by which it secures least rainfall when compared to Rayalaseema and other parts of Andhra Pradesh. The normal rainfall for the South West Monsoon period is 338.0 MMs. which forms about 61.2% of the total rainfall for the year. The failure of the rains in this South West monsoon period of June to September will lead the District to drought by failure of crops. The rainfall for North East monsoon period is 156.0 M.Ms. only, which forms 28.3% M.Ms. of the total rainfall for the year (October to December).
The other months are almost dry March, April and May are warm months when the normal daily maximum temperature ranges between 29.1 C to 40.3 C. November, December and January are cooler months when the temperature falls about 15.7 C, Hindupur, Parigi, Lepakshi, Chilamathur, Agali, Rolla and Madakasira Mandals being at High Elevation are more cooler than the rest of the Mandals in the District.
» Forests
The Forests in the District are thin and scanty. The Muchukota Hills about 35 KMs. in length, run from North of Gooty Town upto extreme Southern Corner of Tadipatri and Yadiki Mandals. Another line of Hills starts from West of Gooty Mandal and run 80 KMs. called by name Nagasamudram Hills. The Mallappakonda Range begins at Dharmavaram and runs into Karnataka State.
The Penukonda Range which starts in the South of Dharmavaram through Penukonda and Hindupur proceeds to Karnataka State.
In Madakasira, the hills divides Rolla and Agali Mandals into Southern and Northern portions.
There are numerous isolated Peaks and Rocky Clusters which are devoid of any vegetation. The height of some of these Hill Ranges are given below:
Mallappakonda four Miles to
North of Bukkapatnam
» Rivers
Pennar River
The important river in the District is Pennar. It has its origin in the Nandi Hills of Karnataka State where it is called "UTTARA PINAKINI" and enters this District in the extreme South of Hindupur Mandal and flows through Parigi, Roddam, Ramagiri, Kambadur, Kalyandurg, Beluguppa, Uravakonda,Vajrakarur,Pamidi, Peddavadugur, Peddapappur and Tadipatri Mandals and finally enters Cuddapah District.
Jayamangala
River which has its origin in Karnataka State enters this District in Parigi Mandal and joins Pennar River at Sangameswarampalli of Parigi Mandal.
Chitravathi River
Another significant river in the District is "CHITRAVATHI". Its origin is in Karnataka State . This river enters the District near Kodikonda village of Chilamathur Mandal and flows North over Rocky and Hilly uplands of Gorantla,Puttaparthi, Bukkapatnam, Kothacheruvu, C.K.Palli, Dharmavaram, Bathalapalli, Tadimarri and Yellanur Mandals and falls into Pennar River at Gandikota in Cuddapah District.
VEDAVATHI or HAGARI RIVER also an important one in the District has its origin in Karnataka State and flows through Gummagatta, Brahmasamudram, Beluguppa, Kanekal and D.Hirehal Mandals and enters Bellary District of Karnataka State. Bhairavanithippa Project (B.T.Project) constructed on this river.
Apart from these streams like KUSHAVATHI in Chilamathur Mandal, SWARNAMUKHI in Agali Mandal, MADDILER U in Nallamada, Kadiri and Mudigubba Mandals, PANDAMERU in Kanaganipalli, Raptadu, Anantapur B.K.Samudram and Singanamala Mandals, PAPAGNI in Tanakal Mandal are important water supply sources to various large and medium irrigation tanks in the district.
» Soils
The soils in Anantapur District are predominantly red except Kanekal, Bommanahal, Vidapanakal, Uravakonda, Vajrakarur, Guntakal, Gooty, Pamidi, Peddavadugur, Yadiki, Tadipatri, Yellanur, Peddapappur and Putlur mandals. In these Mandals red and black soils occur almost in equal proportion. Thus 76% red soils, 24% are black soils.
»Population
There are 929 inhabited villages, out of 964 total Revenue villages of the District. The number of villages in size group of 500 to 1999 forms 36.71% of the total inhabited villages . The size group of 2000 to 4999 forms 38.64% and the size group of 5000 to 9999 forms 12.81% only out of total villages, while 84 villages ( 9.04%) of total inhabited villages are having population less than 500. There are 26 villages with more than 10000 population excluding Towns.
There are 10 Towns in Anantapur District as per 2001 Census. The following Table gives the growth of population of towns from 1991 to 2001.
The density of population of the District is 190 per Sq. K.M, against (277) of the State. The population of Rural and Urban to the total population of the District work out to 75% and 25% in 2001 Census as against 76.5% and 23.5% of 1991 Census. There are 958 Females per 1000 Males in 2001 Census.
The working force in the total population of District forms 48.83% as per 2001 census out of which 26% are in the Agriculture Sector.
»Land Utilisation
The total geographical area of the district is 19.13 lakh Hects. The land utilisation pattern as available in the district during the year 2006-2007 is given in the tables. It can be seen from the table that the net area sown is 9.23 Lakh Hects., which forms 48.25% of the total area. The total cropped area is 9.75 Lakh Hects. Area sown more than once is 0.52 Lakh Hects.
The cultivated area of the District is 9.75 Lakh Hects. out of which 7.95 Lakh Hects. is under Kharif and 1.80 Lakh Hects., is under Rabi Season during the year 2006-2007.
The District occupies the lowest position in respect of Irrigation facilities with only 14.08% of the gross cropped area during 2006-2007.
Out of the gross irrigated area of 1.37 Lakh Hects. during 2006-2007 canals accounted for 17.37%, tanks 1.36%, Tube wells 70.83%, wells 10.02% and other sources 0.42%. All the principal sources except canals are non-precarious.
»Natural Resources
ForestsThe District is not rich in the Forest Wealth. The name ' Forest' in Anantapur District does not indicate any dense tree population with thick foliage of variform of pastures.
»Mineral Resources
GoldAt Ramagiri village in Ramagiri mandal, Gold is found to occur in the Cholite Schist's and physlite along with western part of Dharwar Schist's Belt in the district. The place extends over a length of 14 kms Exploratory mining in the area is pruned about 467 meters of ore shoots with an average width of 100 CMS Tonne. Mining operations are expected to be conducted by Bharat Gold Mines Limited.
DiamondsDiamonds are know to be available near Vajrakarur. They mainly occur in pipe rocks.
Asbestos(Chrysolite variety Cross fibre type) Barytes High Grade Line Stones, Iron ore and steatite are the minerals occurring in the district. There are however no large sized minerals occurring in the district. There are 2 large scale Cement Factories (Ms. L&T Ltd., and Ms. Penna Cement Ltd.,) in Tadipatri Mandal and producing lakhs tonnes of cement in private sector.