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KALLAKURICHI
Kallakurichi is one of the thirty eight districts of Tamil Nadu state located on the southern tip of India. The district headquarters is located at Kallakurichi. Kallakurichi district came into existence on 12th November 2019 when it was created out of Viluppuram district.
Prior to 1960, the town of Kallakurichi was considered a village. In 1960, Kallakurichi became a town panchayat, and then was subsequently upgraded to special- grade town panchayat. On 20 October 2004, it was further upgraded to the third-grade municipality. On 7 September 2010, the municipality was upgraded to first-grade municipality. On 8 January 2019, the region surrounding the municipality of Kallakurichi was announced as the 33rd district of Tamil Nadu by bifurcating Villupuram. The area of this municipality is 11.69 km2 divided into 21 wards.
The district lies in the middle of Salem to Chennai National Highways No.79. The nearst Railway station is Chinnasalem and it is suituated 15KMs from Kallakuruchi. One can go to any corner of the Tamil Nadu as well as to other parts of India from here. The district has temples, mosques and churches which are very old and famous.
There are a number of temples around the village. The famous temples are Suambu Sree Annamaliyar Temple, Sree Sadaiappa Temple, Lord Venkateshwara Temple and Drowpathi Amman Temple.The car festival for Sree Sadaippa Temple is conducted once in every twelve years.
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Thenkeeranur is the largest revenue village in the Kallakurichi taluk. It has two large lakes for irrigation one in the north and the other in the south. A co-operative society bank is located here to help the farming community.
Location Kallakurichi District lies with an area of 3530.58 Sq.Km. It is surrounded on East by Vilupuram District and south Cuddalore and Perambalur. The West by Salem and on the North by Thiruvannamalai and Dharmapuri District.
Geological pattern The General geological formation of the District appears to be simple. The greater part of it is covered by the metamorphic rocks belonging to Genesis family. There are also three great groups of sedimentary rocks belonging to different geological periods. The Kalrayan Hills in the North represents a continuous range of hills covered with some thorny forests and vegetation which are part of Eastern Ghats. Major Rivers are the Then Pennar, Manimuthar and Gomuki. Major source of irrigation is through lakes, canals and wells. The major rivers flowing through this District are as follows, Gomukhi River originates in Kalvarayan Hills and flows through Kallakurichi and
Chinnasalem Taluks.– Mani River - originates in Kalvarayan Hills and flows through Kallakurichi and Sankarapuram Taluks. Muktha River - originates in Kalvarayan Hills and flows through Kallakurichi and Sankarapuram Taluks. Thirumanimuktha River - originates in Selliyampalayam(Nainarpalayam firka) and flows through Chinnasalem and Kallakurichi Taluks. Mayura River - originates in Kallanatham and flows through Chinnasalem and Kallakurichi Taluks.
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Kedilam River - originates in Yaal, Maiyanur forest and flows through Sankarapuram and Ulundurpet Taluks. Sesha Nathi - originates in Veeramangalam and Pidagam Villages and flows through Ulundurpet Taluk. The rivers are seasonal and could not be used for irrigation purpose to the expected level because of low precipitation in most of the days of a year. The North East Monsoon which sets in during October and November brings forth heavy rainfall in some parts of this district causing heavy floods.
Economy Kallakurichi is an emerging agricultural district. It is also known as Home of
Agriculture . “
The town” has two government co-operative sugar mills and one private sugar mill, and one solvent extraction plants. There are many poultry farms in and around Kallakurichi. The name is derived due to the green nature of this village along the banks of the river Gomuki which nourishes the village by its water. It was under the great Chola Empire. The principal occupation of this village is agriculture.
Demography According to the 2011 census, the taluk of Kallakurichi had a population of 465,236 with 234,796 males and 230,440 females. There were 981 women for every 1,000 men. The taluk had a literacy rate of 63.49%. Child populations in the age group below 6 years were 26,388 Males and 23,890 Females. In the analysis of growth rate of total workforce to the growth rate of total population a decadal decline (2011) in Chinnasalem, Kallakurichi 3
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Agriculture Type of soil : Black soil (kallakurichi , chinnasalem) Rainfall: it is scanty in Kallakurichi The average rainfall of the district is 1070 mm. About 86% of the normal rainfall is received during the North East monsoon season. Normally the district does not get heavy rainfall. Crops: Paddy, Sugarcane, cotton, maize, tapioca Groundwater resource: Poor
Industry
Traditional work of wood carving spreads over at Kallakurichi and Chinna Salem of the district.
Main large-scale unit of the district is Sugar Mills which spread over at Kallakurichi
There are over 10 Rice processing units or modern rice (mills) both small and big in this town. Textiles, Jewellery and agricultural feeds are major businesses.
Regional Vulnerability
The important causes for the fall in workforce in certain blocks of kallakurichi are i) reduction in agricultural activities (Kallakurichi)
ii) Growing trend in urbanization resulting in reduction of traditional workforce (Kallakurichi, and Chinnasalem).
The district suffers from serious traffic congestion and infrastructure related issues including road expansion, underground sewerage system and proper solid waste management. Basic healthcare and infrastructure need to be strengthened in Kalvarayan hills. The administration will strive to ensure that the tribals of Kalvarayan hills are relieved
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of their present agony of getting health care services and also their education requirements.
Issues and constituencies of Kallakurichi district
Tourism
Megam Falls (Kalvarayan hills)
Periyar Falls (Kalvarayan hills)
Gomukhi Dam (Base of Kalvarayan hills)
Boating House (Kalvarayan hills)
Kalvarayan Hills Valley view spot.
Thiyagadurugam – Hills Sirakulur Falls (Kalvarayan hills)
Sri Arthanareeswarar Temple (Rishivandiyam)
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Adhi Thiruvarangam)
Sri Subramanyaswamy Temple (At Pasar hills)
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Lord Siva Temple (Near Pasar hills)
Sri Chidambareswarar Temple, Kattuedaiyar
Sri Arthanatheeswarar Temple, Elavanasur or Pidagam
Aanjaneyar Yemple, Ravuthanallur near Sankarapuram
Forests & Lakes at Putthirampattu
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