CHAPTER- Profile of Ahmednagar District Chapter III Profile of Ahmednagar District Chapter Title of the Chapter No 3.1 Location 3.2 Key factors of Ahmednagar District a) Ahmednagar Fort b) Vehicle Research Development Establishment c) Chandbibi Mahal d) Mahatma Phule Krushi Vidyapeeth 3.3 Taluka wise area and villages wise other information of Ahmednagar District 3.4 The Religious Registered Public Trusts of Ahmednagar District a) Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi. b) Shani Shingnapur Devsthan, Sonai. c) Kanifnath Devsthan, Madhi, Pathardi. 53 CHAPTER III A. PROFILE OF THE AHMEDNAGAR DISTRICT : Since the medieval times Ahmednagar was a very famous town. During the kingdom of Nizamshahi, which was formed by Malik Ahmed in 1494, Ahmednagar was the" Capital" of Nizamshahi. King Malik Ahmed named this city as Ahmed by his own name. The legend behind founding the city was Ahmed Shah, It is said that, while hunting, Ahmed Shah saw a fox attacking the hunting dog. He was impressed by the coincidence of the event and took it as a good omen. Since then he named the city as Ahmednagar after his own name. The great diplomats like Mukmikhan, Dakhani, Salabatkhan, Chengesekhan, Malik Ambar were from the period of Nizam empire (Nizamshahi). Some great Chieftains like King Shahji Bhosle, Kunwarsingh, Gopalrao and Sambhaji Chitnavis were from the same period. Shah Tahir, the scholar, was also in Nizam Empire (Nizamshahi). The saints Shah Sharif and Mirawali, were also here in the same period of Ahmednagar to Mughal. In the mean time, Southern Knight Nizam-ui- Mulik disconnected his relation with Delhi court and became independent. In 1759, Ahmednagar came under the dominance of Peshwa, thereafter the British captured this city in 1803. Taking into consideration the background of the city, Ahmednagar District came into existence in the year 1818 Initialy, the boundaries were spread between Vanidindory, the sub division of Nasik district and Karmala in Sholapur district, in the year 1830 the Sub Collector of Solapur district inducted in the district and continued as such till it gained the status of an independent coiiectorate in 1838. 54 During 1837-38, Nasik sub collectorate of the sub division of Sinner, Chandor, Dindori, Nasik, Igutpuri and Peint tahsil were under Ahmednagar district. The post of sub-collectorate of Nasik was abolished in 1856 and the area reverted to Ahmednagar district after the declaration of Solapur and Nasik as independent district. Ahmednagar is the largest in the State in area occupying a somewhat central position in Maharashtra. 3.1 Location: - Ahmednagar district is situated partly in the upper Gandhavari basin and partly in the Bhima basin. It extends between 18.2 and 19.9, North latitudes 73.9 and 75.5 East longitudes. The district is irregular in shape and resembles a slanting cross with a length of 200 kms and a breath of 210 kms. (It is surrounded by Beed district in East Osmanabad and Solapur districts to the South-East, Pune district to the South and Thane to South-West, Nasik district to the West-North and Aurangabad District to the North- East.) The attached graph shows the map of the boundaries of Ahmednagar District. The area of the district is 17,048 square k.m and total population is 4088007. Average temperature is 17.8 and rainfall is 566 m.m. Elevation is 649 mtrs (2129 ft) and considers as the largest district of the state. The district is divided into 14 talukas, the total number of villages in Ahmednagar district is 1556. Out of the above mentioned talukas the Parner is the largest tahsil and Shrirampur is the smallest tahsil. In May 1999 Rahata is declared as a new tahsils. 55 3.2 Key Factors of Ahmednagar District: A) AHMEDNAGAR FORT :- It is a historical fort in the country. During pre independence period most of the freedom fighters were kept in this fort as prisoners including the first Indian Prime Minister Late Shri Jav\/aharlal Nehru. The famous book ''Discovery of India "has been written by Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru in Ahmednagar Fort. B) VRDE:- The Anmednagar city is also popular for the military and contentment. A wide range has been occupied by this service. The Vehicle Research Development Establishment is one of the key activities performed in the premises of military area. It is laboratory of the Defense, Research and Development organization located in Vahannagar. Its primary function is research and development of the various light traced wheeled and specialized vehicles for defense applications. Its mission is to develop infancy combat vehicles, light armored wheeled platform and fairy of such vehicles for different purposes. C) Chandbibi Mahah- • Chandbibi is also known as Chand Khatun or Chand Sultana was an Indian Muslim woman worrier. She acted as the regent of Bijapur and the regent of Anmednagar. Chandbibi is best known for defending Anmednagar against Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar. • Chandbibi Mahal is the place tomb of Salabat Khan, it is a three story structure made of solid stone. It is 13 km. away from Anmednagar situated on the top of the hill. It is a view city of the Anmednagar lights of night. It is visible from almost anywhere in the Anmednagar city. 56 D) Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth :- It is pride of Anmednagar district where this type of Agricultural University established for the benefit of agriculturist to the nation. The jurisdiction of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Rahuri extends over Western Maharashtra covering ten districts. There another four agricultural Universities in the state catering similar services in their locality.The basic mandate assigned to this University in teaching, research and imparting education to the farmers of the state. 3.3 Taluka wise information: The follov^ing table elaborates the details of Taluka wise area and villages in Ahmednagar District Table: 3.1 Taluka wise area and villages Sr.No. Taluka Area in sq. k.m. Villages 1 Ahmednagar 1524.75 112 2 Akola 1503.79 191 3 Karjat 1493.07 121 4 Kopargaon 725.16 81 5 Jamkhed 878.62 87 6 Newasa 1286.55 129 7 Parner 1933.25 131 8 Pathardi 1203.49 135 9 Rahata 659.19 60 10 Rahuri 1020.12 98 11 Sanaamner 1678.82 171 12 Shevgaon 1031.29 112 13 Shrigonda 1605.83 115 14 Shrirampur 569.87 56 Source; District Socio- economic review of Ahmednagar District,2006-07 57 Soils and minerals :- The soil of the district is broadly classified into three groups i.e. black or kali, red or tambat and the gray or inferior locally known as barad. The soil is rich in plant nutrients such as lime, magnesium and potash. The soil is relatively richer and deeper in North area of the district. The south area of Ahmednagar district shows red and gray soil. Hills :- The main Sahyadri ranges touch Akola tahasil in the western areas of Ahmednagar district ,from these main ranges three spurs viz; Kalasubai, Baleswar and Harishchandragad spurt out. ' Kalasubai ' is the highest peak of Sahyadri and serves as the watershed between Darana, Pravara and Mula River. Harishchandragad is 96 kms. Long and its branch run by Ratangad, serving the watershed between Pravara and Mula River. />,^ 'I Rivers :- * Jv V The Godavari and Bhima are the main rivers of this district, the Godavari is in the North and the Bhima is in the South . The Godavari is the most celebrated river of the whole of peninsular India. The Pravara is an important tributary of the Godavari. It originates in Akola tahasil in the eastern slopes of the Sahyadries. The Pravara has immensely benefited yhe district with its irrigation system. The Mula, Adula and the Mhalungi are important tributaries of the Pravara Rivers. The whole of the southern portion of the district lies in the Bhima basin. The Bhima however passes only on the boundry between Ahmednagar and Pune districts. The chief tributaries of the Bhima are the Ghod and the Sina 58 Size of Land :- The total land holders are to the tune of 6,80,608 holding land of 13,56 322 hectares. More than 75% of the land holders of the district belong to the small and marginal farmer categories. The percentage area to Gross cropped area is 32.40 %. The major crops in the district are Jowar, Bajra, Pulses and Oilseeds. The major cash crops are sugar cane, grapes, vegetables and horticultural plants. Occupational pattern :- Agriculture remained a main occupation in the district. Since majority in the district population is engaged in agriculture. Around 74% of workers are engaged in agricultural allied and agro based industry. Other occupations engaged only about 26% . Industries:- Ahmednagar Disrtict is pioneer in the field of producing sugar from sugar cane in Asia . The first Private sugar factory started in Shrirampur tahasil i.e. ''Belapur sugar and allied industries Ltd. Harigaon in the year 1949. Thereafter in the year 1953 sugar factory under co­ operative pattern took place in Pravaranagar. There are 21 sugar factories in the district. Out of which 17 sugar factories are on co-operative pattern and 4 sugar factories are in private sector. It is also important to note that out of the above 7are producing by-products such as paper, wine, bio-gas, chemicals etc. The district products about 25% of the total sugar production of Maharashtra. There are 3 MIDC'S and some industrial estates in the district. Other registered units are processing, ginning, pressing, spinning, and weaving mills. There are also the units as poultry, brick making, oil- mills, distilleries, paper mills and engineering units. 59 Co-operative Societies :- There are around 9600 co-operative societies in the district. They are as follovy/ing; 1.