Growth and Distribution of Population in Kolhapur City of Maharashtra State (India)

RESEARCH PAPER Geography Volume : 6 | Issue : 5 | May 2016 | ISSN - 2249-555X | IF : 3.919 | IC Value : 74.50 Growth And Distribution of Population In Kolhapur City of Maharashtra State (India) Kolhapur city, Urbanization, Population growth, Population prediction, Population KEYWORDS distribution. K. C. Ramotra B. K. Swami Professor, Department of Geography, Shivaji Associate Professor and Head, Dept. of Geography, D. R. University, Kolhapur. Mane Mahavidyalaya, Kagal. ABSTRACT The process of urban expansion is a dominant phenomenon in South Maharashtra, which has been ac- celerated by increasing levels of urbanization facilitated by marked developments in transportation, indus- trialization and tourism. The other determinant is sprawl that includes high population growth on account of migration and establishment of growing network of public utilities. Kolhapur is largest urban centre of south Maharashtra and experiencing considerable high population growth. The present study based on the secondary sources of data mainly collected from the Census of India, intends to look into the growth and distribution of population in Kolhapur city located in the Sothern part of Maharashtra state. For computing the annual population growth Gibbs method is used and for predicting the population of Kolhapur city Mandal’s formula is employed. Ward-wise distribution of population has also highlighted. During the last more than a century period (1901-2011) population augmented due to high natural growth rate and migration. The better livelihood opportunities in the city have attributed to the rapid expansion of Kolhapur urban centre. After independence, the growth rate of population of Kolhapur City was high, but during 1941 to 1951 it was found very high (47.08%). The wards like Vicharemal, Daulatnagar, Kholkhandoba, Padmaraje Udyan, Ya- dav Nagar and Sukrawargate wherein slums are also found having population density above 600 per hectare. its geographical area. INTRODUCTION The process of migration of population from rural areas To examine ward-wise population distribution in the city to urban centres and transformation of villages into town from 1971 to 2011 and identification of areas with high and cities is called urbanisation (Ramotra, 2004). In the density and space for development. present day scenario, cities are becoming hub of all hu- man activities. This has resulted in ever growing size of To draw the attention of civic bodies and urban develop- cities, squeezing open spaces available within city and has ment authorities regarding the growth of population of the started exerting pressure on civic amenities. The very high city from 2021 to 2041 and in accordance to that how the growth of population has led to various socio-economic utilities and essential services to public can well be main- problems such as hunger and malnutrition, poverty and tained. lower living standard, lower availability of natural resources, degradation in natural environment, scarcity of comfort- STUDY AREA able and hygienic houses, unemployment, overcrowding, Kolhapur is 11th largest city in ‘one of the six top districts in schools, hospitals and other social amenities (Shrivastri, in the state of Maharashtra with highest per capita income’ 2010). (TOI, March 8, 2016), which is located between 160 39’’ 3’ to 160 45’’ 50’ North latitude and 740 11” 20’ to 740 16” Generally speaking growth of population is the funda- 10’ East longitude. City is situated on the right bank of the mental factor in ecological system and its relation to nat- river Panchaganga, which is a tributary of the river Krishna. ural resources, environment and technology. In India, un- The elevation of Kolhapur city is 650m above sea level. precedented population growth coupled with unplanned The city has moderate climate with minimum tempera- development activities has resulted in rapid but skewed ture of 150C and maximum 400C and receives an average urbanization. This has posed serious implications on the re- rainfall of 1043 mm., the population of Kolhapur City in source base, access to infrastructure and development of 1901was 54,373 only and in span of more than a century, the region. In course of urban spared, valuable land is be- it reached to 5,49,236 in 2011. The city has unique physi- ing covered for building, industry, transport facilities, etc. ographic setup with gentle slope decreases to north from The direct implication of such urban sprawl is the change south. The famous Rankala tank is located to the western in land use and land cover of the region. The ability to side of the city is an attractive spot not only for the local serve and develop land heavily influenced the economic citizens but also for the tourists visiting the Great Mahalax- and environmental quality of life in the city. Haphazard and ami temple. Because of this great and famous Mahalaksh- unplanned expansions of urban centre are found in South mi temple Kolhapur is known as ‘Dakshin Kashi’. The Pune- Maharashtra. An absence of land use planning may lead to Bengaluru national highway No 4 (NH-4) is on eastern side land degradation. Un-planned decision may result into mis- of the city. ery for large segment of local population and destruction of valuable eco-system. It is well connected with other towns and cities that fa- cilitates the people to visit this historical city well known OBJECTIVES all over the country due to the reforms that have taken To analyse the population growth of Kolhapur city from place by his Highness Shahu Maharaj who made the pro- 1871 to 2011 and appraising the problem of expansion of vision of development of the depressed castes especially 16 X INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH RESEARCH PAPER Volume : 6 | Issue : 5 | May 2016 | ISSN - 2249-555X | IF : 3.919 | IC Value : 74.50 the Scheduled Castes by providing them reservation in mapuri is the oldest nucleus of the city, situated on the 1902. Shahu Maharaj was the first King in India who imple- bank of river Panchaganga over two thousand years ago. mented the reservation policy (provided 50% reservation in Kolhapur is as old as that of its origin is attributed to the his state to backward classes) on 26 July 1902 (Kanbarkar, creator Brahma Himself in the Mythology (Karaveer Mahat- 2010). It was a vital historical event that made possible to mya, Adhyaya 9:1 Shloka). In Puranas it is known as ‘Kara- deliver social justice to them for their upliftment, which veera’, after the legend that the Godess Mahalaxmi used has also played an important role in fascinating the peo- her mace (Kar) to lift and save her favourite retreat from ple of all castes and creeds attributed to city’s growth and the water of the Great Deluge. According to another leg- development. Shahu Maharaj applied his mind to promote end the name ‘Kolhapur’ and ‘Karaveer’ have been derived education among the backward classes as the knowledge after two demons, Kolhasura and Karaveera, who lived in is the source of power and prosperity to have high level these parts and killed on a hill in the vicinity of the city of administration. It was Jotirao Phooley’s Satyashodak Sa- by the Godess Mahalaxmi. Yet another analogy is that the maj’s movement to spread education among backward and name ‘Kolhapur’ has been taken from the city’s one time suppressed classes in rural areas of the state of Maharash- King, the Srigala (Sanskrit for ‘fox’, converted to ‘Kolha’ in tra. Phooley started his work in 1848 and England under Prakrit). According to Rajawade, ‘Kolla’ was the Godess of the Act of 1870 provided schools and in 1880 made pri- the ‘Kols’ or ‘Kohas’, the aboriginal residents of the settle- mary education compulsory up to the age of ten as Shahu ment and her shrine was named as ‘Kolhapur’, the name Maharaj wanted to give a larger share to the backward eventually degenerated into its Marathi form ‘Kolhapur’ classes in the administration of local affairs and a voice (Malshe, 1974). in the public bodies. Realising the educational acquisition of education at the time of accession on 2nd April 1894 of Shahu Maharaj to the throne of Kolhapur, the percentage of educated Brahmins was 79.1, Marathas 8.6, Kunbis 1.5, Muslims 7.5, Jains and Lingayats 10.6 (Keer, 1976). The major problem of Kolhapur city is that its population has been augmenting due to natural and migration as well, but city is facing the problem as the expansion of geographical area, has not taken place since long and development can only take place when its immediate surround- ing villages have already been taking benefits, are being merged to the city. It can provide space for its further development. But the people from these proposed villages opposing bitterly for maintenance of their own old status, the basis on which they get electricity, phone and other services at cheaper rate. The Kolhapur Municipal Corpo- ration has drafted the proposal of merging the 17 fringe villages viz. Shiroli, Nagaon, Valivde-Gandhinagar, Sarno- batwadi, Gokul Shrigaon, Panchgaon, Morewadi, Ujlaiwadi, New Balinge, Kalamba, Unchgaon, Vadiper, Ambewadi, Vadange, Shiye, Shingnapur and Nagdevwadi into civic limits. The name of the Mudshingi village was added at the last minute to the proposal finalised in May end 2015. However, the villages and industrial units have been opposing the plan (TOI, March11 & Feb.17, 2016). Kolhapur city became Municipal Corporation on 15th Dec. 1972 and its area at that time was 66.82 sq km, which has not changed since then. Its population in 1941 was below one lakh (93,032) as per census of India and it rose to over one lakh i.e. (136,835) in 1951 which is essential for declaring any urban centre as a city and Municipal Corporation status.

Load more