DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT OF TIRUNELVELI

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Edwina Bell
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1 DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT OF TIRUNELVELI

2 1. INDRODUCTION: Tirunelveli district is bounded by Virudhunagar district in the north, Thoothukudidistrict in the east, in the south by Gulf of Mannar and by Kerala State in the west and Kanniyakumari in the southwest. The District lies between 08º08'09 N to 09º24'30 N Latitude, 77º08'30 E to 77º58'30 E Longitude and has an area extent of 6810 sq.km. Thereare 19 Blocks, 425 Villages and 2579 Habitations in the District.

3 2. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE DISTRICT Tirunelveli District was formed in 1790 by the East India company, later came under the direct control of the British Crown Queen Victoria. The name Tirunelveli has been composed from the three Tamil words i.e. Thiru Nel Veli meaning Sacred Paddy Hedge. 2.1 Geographical data: Tirunelveli District having geographical area of 6759 sq.kms, in the Southeastern portion of Tamil Nadu is triangular in shape. It lies between 8.05 and 9.30 of the Northern latitude and and of Eastern longitude. 2.2 Topography: The district is located in the southern part of Tamil Nadu and sourrended by Virudhunagar District on the north, Western Ghats on the West, Kanniyakumari District on the south, Tuticorin District on the East. The lifeline of the district river Tamiraparani feeds the district and quenches the thirst of residents of Tuticorin district too. 2.3 Administrative Setup: This District is having 3 Revenue Divisions comprising of 11 Taluks, 60 Firkas 19 Development Blocks, 616 Revenue Villages and 425 Village Panchayats. Demographic Details: The population of this District was as per 2001 Census and 30,72,880as per 2011 census. The Density of Population per sq.km. was 399 as per 2001 census and 455 persons as per 2011 census. Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Ambasamudram are the most densely populated Taluks in the District as per 2001 census.the Sex ratio is 1024 females for every 1000 males in the District as per 2011 census. The Literacy rate is 76.09% in the District as per 2001 census. Out of the total population, males are and females as per 2001 census. Out of the total population, males are and females as per 2011 census.the district having Schedule caste population of which represents 17.66% tototal population as per 2001 census. Schedule Tribes are found to be very small in numbers 8358 which is 0.31% of the Total population. 4.36% of State population lives in Tirunelveli

4 district., live in Rural area and live in urban area forming 52% and 48% respectively as per Climate and Rainfall: The district has peculiar climate and receives rainfall in all the seasons which represent 947.6mm in The maximum precipitation is contributed by the North East Monsoon(555.08mm) followed by the South west monsoon(189.6mm)and the Summer (127.7mm). and the Winter (74.5 mm) 2.5 Occupation: Agriculture plays a Vital role in the District s economy. The total cropped area was hectares, which worked out 25.32% of the total area of The important food crops are Paddy, Cholam, Ragi, Cumbu Maize and other minor millets. The commercial crops are Cotton, Chillies, Sugarcane and Groundnut. Of the total cultivated area of hectares in the district, hectares were sown more than once. 2.6 Irrigation: The District is blessed with the western ghats from which all the perennial rivers follow and drain towards the east. The surface water of the District is drained into major river basin vizthamiraparani, Vaippar, Nambiar and Hanumanathi. Thamiraparaniis the major river basin in the District. The other Streams which are seasonal in nature are Servallar, Manimuthar, Ramanathi, Pachayar, Chittar and Uppodai rivers which drain into the Tamiraparani basin. The source of irrigation are Canal, Tank and Well, which covers hectares. Among the total area irrigated, Well irrigation covers hectares, Tanks hectares and Canal hectares 2.7 Industry: There are 25 medium and major industries such as Cement, Cotton yarn, Calcium carbide, Sugar, Cotton seed oil, Printing papers and flour Mill etc.among the other industries in the District Pin, Clip, Matches, Beedi,Vesselsmaking and Engineering industries are important. The important Village industries functioning in the district are Handloom, Poultry farming, Brick making, Jaggary production. The Handloom products Lungi, Sarees etc are marketed in north India. So also the fine Korai mats from

5 Pathamadihave one world fame. KallidaikurichiPappads, Karukurichi mud pots, also Tirunelveli Halva are specialities which earned many laurels to the District. 2.8 Tourist spots: Courtallam is situated at the Western Ghats in Tenkasi Taluk. The famous waterfalls on rocks and tiny droplets are sprinkled in the air. The water falls of Courtalamhave medicinal value as they run through forest and herbs before their decent.pappanasamagasthiar falls also attracts tourist and pilgrims.there is a Wild life sanctuary at Mundanthurai and Kalakadu. Spotted deers, Liontailed monkeys, Elephants and Tigers are plenty. 2.9 Religious Significance: The Nellaiappar temple at Tirunelveli, Sankaranainar temple at Sankarankoil, Kasiviswanathar temple at Tenkasi and Vanamamalai Temple at Nanguneri are the land marks of the District signifying the Hindu Culture.. Palayamkottai has many Christian missions and Athankaraipallivasal&PottalpudurDarga have considered to be important sacred places for Muslims. 3.0 GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY 3.1 Geology: Rock Type Geological Formation Hard Rock 90% Charnockite, Gneiss, Granite, Sedimentary Rock 10% Granite, Limestone, Pegmatite, Sandy clay, Sandstone, Alluvium 3.2 Geomorphylogy and Soil Types Tirunelveli district is bordered by Western Ghats (Ridge and valley complex) in the West. A major part of the district constitutes a plain terrain with a gentle slope toward East and Southeast, except for the hilly terrain in the west The general elevation of the area varies from less than 10 to 1408 m amsl (Tulukkaparai hill range)the prominent geomorphic units identified in the district through interpretation of Satellite imagery are Structural Hill, Bazada Zone, Valley Fill, Flood Plain, Pediment, Shallow buried pediment, Deep buried pediment and Coastal Plain.

6 Soils in the area have been classified into i ) Deep Red soil ii). Red Sandy Soil.iii)Block Cotton Soil. iv) Saline Coastal Alluvium, and v) River Alluvium. Major parts of the area are covered by Deep Red soil and are found in Sivakasi, Tenkasi, Senkottai and Sankarankoil blocks and it is suitable for cultivating coconut and palmyrah trees. Red sandy soil also in reddish yellow in colour and are found in Nanguneri, Ambasamudram, and Radhapuram blocks and it is suitable for cultivating groundnut, millets and pulses etc., The Block Cotton Soil is found in Tirunelveli, Palayankottai and Sankarankoil blocks, and it is suitable for cultivating Paddy, Ragi, and Cholam etc., The Saline Coastal Alluvium are dark grey to deep brown in colour and spread over the Nanguneri and Radhapuram blocks. The River alluvial soils occur along the river courses of Tamrabarani and Chittarriver covering in the blocks Tirunelveli and Palayankottai and it is suitable for cultivating Groundnut, Chillies and Cumbu. 3.3 Drainage The district is part of the composite east flowing river basin, Between Vaippar and Nambiar as per the Irrigation Atlas of India. Tambarabarani, Vaipar and Nambiar are the important Sub-basins. Thamarabarani, Nambiar, Chittar and Karamaniar are the important rivers draining the district. Tamarabarani originating from Papanasam flows thorough the district. The Nambiyar river originates in the eastern slopes of the Western ghats near Nellikalmottai about 9.6 km west of Tirukkurugundi village at an altitude of about 1060 m amsl At the foot of the hills, the river is divided into two arms. The main arm is joined by Tamarabarani at the foothills. Chittar originates near Courtallam and flows through Tenkasi and confluences with Tamarabarani. The hilly terrains have resulted in number of falls in the district. There are three major falls in Manimuttar Reservoir catchments area and there are few falls in the Tamarabaraniriver also. A series of falls in Chittarriver in Courtallam comprising Five Falls, Honey Falls, Main falls and Old Courtallm Falls are some of the important falls in the area. The drainage pattern in general is dendritic. In addition, there are eight dams at the places as given below for irrigation and power generation purposes.

3.4 Ground Water Level:: The Ground Water levels from the 63 number of observation wells of TWAD have been analysed for Post-Monsoon and Pre-Monsoon.

7 3.4 Ground Water Level:: The Ground Water levels from the 63 number of observation wells of TWAD have been analysed for Post-Monsoon and Pre-Monsoon. Since 1991 average Ground water level in m Below Ground Level for pre and post monsoon is as follows 3.5 Aquifer Parameters Type of Aquifer Unconfined to Semi confined conditions Aquifer parameters Alluvium Hard rock Well yield in lpm Transmissivity (T)m2/day Permeability (K)(m/day)) Depth of Water level 2m to 14m 2.6 Groundwater Potential as on March 2011 (as per CGWB): Net Groundwater Availability (in MCM) Existing Gross Groundwater draft for all users (in MCM) Stage of Groundwater development (in %) 58 % Categorization of District Safe

8 3.7 Categorization of Firkas: The status of Categorization of firkas as of March 2011 for the District is shown below. Categorisation based on Extraction (as on 2011) Over Exploited (>100%) 15 No. of Firkas Firkas Kallurani, KarisalKulam,Karivaklamvandanallur, Karuvantha,Kurukkalpatti, Pazhankottai, Pazhavoor, Radhapuram, Sankarankoil,Sernthamangalam, Surandai,Tisayanvilai, Uthumalai, Vannikonenthal, Veerasigamani. Critical (90%100%) 3 Ayikudi, Gudalur, Nettur. Semi Critical (70%90%) 9 Keezhapavoor, Levinjipuram, Panagudi, Puliyankudi, Thiruvengadem, Valliyoor, Vasudevanallur, Veerakeralampudur, Venkadampatti. Safe (<70%) 33 Others (Poor & Saline) Total 60 - Alankulam, Alwarkurichi, Ambasamudram, Cheranmahadevi, Elathur, Eruvadi, Gangaikondan, Kadayam, Kadayanallur, Kalakadu, Madhavakurichi, Manur, Melapattam, Melaseval, Moolakaraipatti, Mukkudal, MuneerPallam, Nanguneri, Naranammalpuram, Palayamkottai, Panpoli, Pappakudi, Poolam, Pudupatti, Samugarengapuram, Shencottai, Singampatti, Sivagiri, Sivanthipatti, Tenkasi, Thalaiyuthu, Tirunelveli, Vijayanarayanapuram.

There are actually six geographic sub-regions, three in both the uplands and the lowlands.

There are actually six geographic sub-regions, three in both the uplands and the lowlands. 6 Regions of AR Although Arkansas is most easily divided into two distinct geographical regions, the northwestern uplands and the southeastern lowlands, this description does not accurately portray the