Bapatla district is a district in coastal Andhra in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) established on 4 April 2022. The administrative headquarters are in Bapatla. The district is formed from parts of the erstwhile Prakasam district and Guntur districts.[3][4][5][6]
Bapatla district | |
|---|---|
 Stupa at Bhattiprolu | |
.svg) Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 15°54′18″N 80°28′05″E / 15.905°N 80.468°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Kostaandhra |
| Headquarters | Bapatla |
| Administrative divisions | |
| Government | |
| • Collector & District Magistrate | Sri J. Venkata Murali, I.A.S. |
| • Superintendent of Police | Sri Tushar Dudi, I.P.S. |
| • Lok Sabha constituency | Bapatla |
| • MP | Krishna Prasad Tenneti |
| • Assembly constituencies | 06 |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,828.84 km2 (1,478.32 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 1,586,918 |
| • Density | 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Website | bapatla |
It has an Indian Air Force station and several universities.
History
editNamed after Bhavanarayana Swamy temple, it was originally called Bhavapuri, and later to Bhavapatla and finally, Bapatla, in due course. In 1977, a proposal to form Bapatla district was made by Kolla Venkaiah, famous communist leader. On April 4, 2022 as part of forming districts with parliamentary constituencies as the basis, the district was created with parts from erstwhile Prakasam district and Guntur districts. [7] [8][9]
Bapatla Taluka was created in 1794. During May 26-27,1913 meeting of the first Andhra Mahasabha at the townhall, the foundation for separate state for Andhras was mooted.[10] During Independence movement, Chirala-Perala movement of 1919 led by Duggirala Gopalakrishnaiah became prominent at national level.[7]
The first agricultural college in South India was started in Bapatla on 11 July 1945. BPT-5204 and Samba Masuri paddy varieties were developed here by MV Reddy. The Cashew Research Center at Bapatla developed the popular BPP-8 variety of cashews.[7]
Geography
editThis district is surrounded to the north by the Guntur district, south by the Bay of Bengal, west by the Palnadu district, Prakasam district and east by the Krishna district.[11]
Natural resources
editSand reaches occur in Bhattiprolu and Kollur Mandals. Gravel is present in Amarthalur, Kollur, Bhattiprolu, Karlapalem and Bapatla mandals.[12]
Good deposits of coloured granites occur around Uppumaguluru and Konidena.[13]
Demographics
editBased on 2011 census, Bapatla district had a population of 15,86,918, of which 284,114 (17.90%) lived in urban areas. It had a sex ratio of 1012 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 3,58,655 (22.6%) and 75,838 (4.97%) of the population respectively.[15]
At the time of the 2011 census, 93.00% of the population spoke Telugu and 6.12% Urdu as their first language.[16] 91.82% of population follow Hinduism, while Muslims and Christians make up smaller percentages.
Administrative divisions
editThe district is divided into Bapatla, Chirala and Repalle, which are further subdivided into a total of 25 mandals.[17]
Mandals
edit
The list of 25 mandals in Bapatla district, divided into 3 revenue divisions, is given below.
Cities and towns
edit| Ciy/Town | Civil status | Revenue Division | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chirala | Municipality | Chirala | 1,62,471 |
| Bapatla | Municipality | Bapatla | 70,777 |
| Repalle | Municipality | Bapatla | 50,866 |
| Addanki | Municipality | Addanki | 60,022 |
| Parchur | Nagar Panchayat | Chirala | 13,375 |
| Santhamaguluru | Nagar Panchayat | Chirala | 9,675 |
Politics
editThere are one parliamentary and six assembly constituencies in Bapatla district. The parliamentary constituency is
The assembly constituencies are[18]
| Constituency number | Name | Reserved for (SC/ST/None) |
Parliament |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Vemuru | SC | Bapatla |
| 90 | Repalle | None | |
| 92 | Bapatla | None | |
| 104 | Parchur | None | |
| 105 | Addanki | None | |
| 106 | Chirala | None |
Economy
editAgriculture contributes to major share of gross district domestic product. Agriculture and allied services based industries such as cotton spinning mills, oil mills and shrimp processing are present in the district[19]
Irrigation
edit- Krishna western delta is a major irrigation project[12] Tanks, Tube Wells, Dug Wells, Lift
Irrigation are other sources of irrigation.[20]
Education
editThe first agricultural College in South India was started on 11 July 1945 in Bapatla by the Government of Composite Madras State India. It became part of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh in 1964. [12]
Military institutions
editAirforce station at Suryalanka of Southern Air Command is a major defence establishment in the district. It has carried out Emergency Landing Facility trials on National Highway 16 near Addanki on 29 Dec 2022.[21]
Tourism
edit
-
Stupa at Bhattiprolu -
Sunrise at Suryalanka Beach -
Bhavanarayana Swamy Temple in Bapatla is a 5th Century CE temple dedicated to Ksheera Bhavanarayanaswamy and Sundaravalli. This temple is under the administration control of Archaeological Survey of India. Chariot procession and other festivals are celebrated.[22] Prasannanjaneya swamy temple at Singarakonda near Addanki is a popular pilgrimage center. This temple was said to be constructed in the 15th century by Vijayanagara king Devarayalu.[23] Mahasivaratri is celebrated in a grand manner at Ganga Bhramarambha Sameta Malleswara Swamy temple, Manikeswaram[24][25]
One of the earliest evidence of Brahmi script, origin of most scripts in India, is written on an urn containing Buddha's relics placed in the Stupa of Bhattiprolu. The script has been named Bhattiprolu script.[26]
Saraswata Niketanam at Vetapalem is a library founded in 1918. It is known for its large collection of palm leaf manuscripts,newspapers and books.
Beaches
editNallamada, East Tungabhadra, Gundamthippa, Romperu(right) rivers meet the sea at Kappalavaripalem, Pinniboyinavaripalem. Suryalanka beach, about 9 km from Bapatla is suitable for sea bathing. Vadarevu and Ramapuram beaches near Chirala are also popular tourist attractions.[27]
Notable people
editKasinadhuni Viswanath who won the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to films as director, screenwriter, lyricist and actor hails from Repalle.[28] D. Ramanaidu, Guinness Book of World Records holder for the most films produced by an individual hailed from Karamchedu near Chirala.[29] Pawan Kalyan born in Bapatla is a famous film actor and founder of Jana Sena Party.
Konijeti Rosaiah elected as MLA of Chirala assembly constituency several times rose to become Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Governor of Tamil Nadu.[30] Kona Prabhakara Rao represented Bapatla assembly constituency several times and served as Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker, State Minister and Governor.[31]
References
edit- ^ CPO 2022, p. 13.
- ^ "Demography | Bapatla District, Government of Andhra Pradesh | India". Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ Raghavendra, V. (26 January 2022). "With the creation of 13 new districts, AP now has 26 districts". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "AP issues draft gazette notification on 26 districts". Deccan Chronicle. 26 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "New districts to come into force on April 4". The Hindu. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "కొత్త జిల్లా తాజా స్వరూపం". Eenadu.net (in Telugu). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ a b c "ప్రగతికి మణిహారం (ఈనాడు బాపట్ల జిల్లా సంచిక)". ఈనాడు. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ "AP: కొత్త జిల్లాల స్వరూపమిదే.. పెద్ద జిల్లా ఏదంటే?". Sakshi (in Telugu). 3 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ "కొత్త జిల్లా తాజా స్వరూపం". Eenadu.net (in Telugu). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Andhra Mahasabhalu on May 26". The Times of India. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "District Profile". Bapatla district. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "About District". Bapatla district. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Geology and Mineral Resources of Prakasam District". Department of mines and geology, Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Population by Religion - Andhra Pradesh". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
- ^ CPO 2022, p. VI.
- ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Andhra Pradesh". Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ^ "Andhra Pradesh gets 76th revenue division, Bapatla's Repalle". TOI. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "District-wise Assembly-Constituencies". ceoandhra.nic.in.
- ^ CPO 2022, p. 127-128.
- ^ CPO 2022, p. 76.
- ^ "ELF carried out in Bapatla District (AP) By Air Force Station Suryalanka of Southern Air Command". Sainik Samachar. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ CPO 2022, p. 16.
- ^ "Devotees make a beeline for Singarakonda for temple fete". The Hindu. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Siva temples gear up for the festival". The Hindu. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ AP Tourism E-Brochure Bapatla district (PDF). 2023.
- ^ "Centrally Protected Monuments". Archeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- ^ "Over one lakh people take holy dip at beaches in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh on Kartika Somavaram". The Hindu. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Kumar, Asha Kiran (19 February 2019). "K Viswanath: National Award films directed by the ace filmmaker". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ Chakravarthy, Venkatesh (4 March 2015). "Dream merchant". Frontline. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Former AP CM, ex-TN Guv K Rosaiah passes away". United News of India.
- ^ "Shri Kona Prabhakara Rao (31.05.1985 – 02.04.1986)". rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in.
- ^ Most Christians in the district identify themselves as Hindus to avail reservation benefits, the real proportion of Christians being around 15-20% of the population
Books
editCPO (2022). District Hand Book of Statistics – Bapatla district (PDF).
