Brother Mentor

1

VILLUPURAM

Vizhuppuram district was once a part of the South Arcot district along with the Cuddalore

district.

Later, the Cuddalore district was bifurcated and Vizhuppuram district came into existence

on 30 September 1993.

As a result, the Vizhuppuram district's history closely resembles that of Cuddalore's.

HISTORY

The Cholas were among the earliest rulers. Karikala Chola was the most

influential. Simhavishnu Pallava overthrew the Cholas, and the region came under

the Pallava rule. Vijayalaya Chola restored the rule of Chola, marking the beginning of

the Chola Empire.

With the rise of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I (1251 CE), Chola supremacy came to

an end. The Pandyan dynasty rule lasted more than 50 years, followed by Muslim

domination from 1334 CE to 1378 CE. By 1378 CE, the region came under the rule

of Vijayanagara empire, and Nayaks were appointed rulers of the region.

In 1677, Shivaji overtook the Gingee area with the help of Golkonda forces. Then came

the reign of the Mughals, which is when the English and French acquired settlements

in South Arcot District. The entire district became a war zone during the Anglo-French

rivalry and it came under the control of the East India Company. It remained

under British authority until the independence of India in 1947.

Brother Mentor

2

Recently Artefacts from the Sangam era were unearthed at Kodukkur village in

Vaanur taluk on 8th August 2020. The unearthed materials, including mud pots, jugs,

potsherds and bones, were found on a land that was being prepared to set up a brick

kiln unit.

It is Located on the southern banks of Sankaraparani river, Kodukkur lies close to

Thiruvakkarai where a museum preserving wood fossils as ancient as 20,000 years,

has been set up.

These artefacts were unearthed near Thiruvakkarai that already houses a fossil

wood museum under the Archaeological Survey of India.

GEOGRAPHY

The district shares borders with Bay of Bengal in the east, Puducherry district of the

union territory Puducherry in the southeast and

The districts Chengalpattu and Tiruvannamalai in the north, Cuddalore in the south

and Kallakurichi in the west.

The area contains metamorphic rocks formed by pressure and heat belonging to the

granite-like gneiss family. There are also three major groups of sedimentary rocks,

layers of particles that settled in different geological periods.

Kalrayan Hills forest park is located 116 kilometres to the west and Gingee Hills forest

park 50 kilometres to the north. The Thatagiri Murugan Temple is about 191

kilometres to the southeast in Senthamangalam with the Lord Siva temple in

Koppampatti 153 kilometres southwest of the town.

Brother Mentor

3

CLIMATE AND RAINFALL

Since the town is landlocked, the weather in Viluppuram is generally humid and hot. It

relies on the monsoon for rain during October, November and December.

Summers are very hot, and temperatures can get up to 40 °C (104 °F). Winters are

moderate with temperatures ranging between 30 and 35 °C (86 and 95 °F) Viluppuram

has a tropical climate.

In winter, there is much less rainfall in Viluppuram than in summer. This climate is

considered to be Aw according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification.

The average annual temperature is 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in Viluppuram with average

annual rainfall of 1,046 millimetres.

With an average of 222 millimetres (8.7 in) per annum, the most precipitation falls in

October. The warmest month of the year is May, with an average temperature of 32.0 °C

(89.6 °F). January has the lowest average temperature of the year at 24.6 °C (76.3 °F)

Brother Mentor

4

RESOURCES AVAILABILITY

Land resources

The soil types found in the district are red, black cotton and coastal sand. The

topography is almost plain in major areas. The Kalrayan hills and Gingee hills are with

undulating terrainches

Land Use Pattern

The total geographic area of Villupuram District is 7,22,203 hectares. The total gross

cropped area is 3,85,230 and the net area sown 3,08,341 in 2016-17. Further it was

observed that forest area was 10% of the total geographical area.

The net area sown is 3,08,341 which constitutes to 42.7% of the total geographic area.

The total area sown more than once is 76,889 hectares. Barren and uncultivable land

area (like mountains, desert and hills) occupies the 56651 hectares which is the highest

among the other districts of Tamil Nadu against the state average of about 488460

hectares.

Brother Mentor

5

Agriculture and horticulture

Villupuram is one of the predominant agricultural district in which 75% of population

is engaged in Agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood.

Agriculture continues to be the predominant sector of District economy. The cropping

intensity which refers to the ratio between gross area sown and net sown area is 1.40,

which is higher than the State average of 1.25.

The major crops grown in the district are paddy, groundnut, sugarcane, cumbu, gingelly

and tapioca.

Viluppuram District has 5.68 Lakh farm families. In this 75% are marginal farmers,

16% belongs to small farmers and 9% are big farmers. The big farmers share of 42%

which is higher than the State average 34%.

Paddy is the principal crop extensively cultivated in all three seasons namely Sornavari,

Samba and Navarai. Paddy accounts to 40% of the total cropped area in the district.

Pulses are another important food grain crop. Blackgram is a predominant pulses crop

which covers more than 80% of the total pulses area in Viluppuram District. Sugarcane

is an important commercial crop in Viluppuram District supplies entire cane for 7 sugar

mills located within the district and partial cane supply for 5 other sugar mills located

in the neighbouring districts. Hence the district acts as the sugar bowl of Tamil Nadu.

Viluppuram district shares a remarkable place in State food grain production. From

2013-14 to 2017-18, Viluppuram district stands first in food grain production. Each

year Viluppuram contributes more than 10% of the State’s food production.

Viluppuram district stands first with 850 Kgs. average yield in Pulses crop production.

During 2013-14 Mrs. Visalakshi,Vanur block received the National Krishi Karman

Award from Honourable Prime Minister of India.

Brother Mentor

6

Farmers of this district are pioneers in adopting agricultural technologies. So

Viluppuram always stands pioneer in Agricultural Production sector.

Agricultural department talently faces the challenge of attaining high growth ratio by

successfully implementing various development schemes and allied technologies.

To improve the farmer’s economic situation through value added products and

increased income, we are implementing schemes like, NMSA, MSDA, Collective farming,

Micro Irrigation, Bio fertilizers, SSI, INM, IPM in addition to normal schemes like crop

rotation and crop extension technologies.

Forest resources

Total forest area under Villupuram Forest Division is 48,703.13 ha Out of this

24,017.24 ha has been leased out to Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation

(TAFCORN).

Out of the balance of 24,685.89 ha 20,707.92, ha fall under Villupuram District and

3,977.97 ha under Cuddalore District.

Villupuram Forest Division consists of 26 Reserve Forest areas , Gingee and Kalrayan

Hills are the two hills in the district. Forest area in the district constitutes about 9.9% of

the total area of the district and lies in the areas bordering Salem, Dharmapuri and

Thiruvannamalai Districts.

Brother Mentor

7

Teak wood rose wood and sandal wood trees are grown in the hills. In the Kalrayan

Hills and Gingee areas some medicinal plants are also grown. In the social forest areas,

trees raised are mainly for firewood and paper making. Babul, Eucalyptus and

Casuarina are grown in the district. In some pockets of the district, cashew is also

grown.

Mineral resources

Silica sand, river sand, black granite, blue metal and gravel are the mineral resources

found in the district

Water Resources

The major rivers flowing through the district are indicated below. • Gadilam River flows through Thirukoilur Taluk. Malattar River joins Gadilam before

flowing into the Bay of Bengal. • Pennar River flows through Thirukoilur and Villupuram Taluks • Sankaraparani rises in Gingee Taluk and flows through Villupuram Taluk. • Gomukhi the main tributary of Manimuktha River joins into Vellar River in Cuddalore

District.

The rivers are only seasonal, mostly carrying flood waters and none of them are

perennial. These rivers cannot be used for irrigation purpose to the expected level

because of low precipitation.

Well irrigation (opens well, tube well and bore well) is the principal source of irrigation

in Tamil Nadu, which ranges about 16.4 lakhs hectares (61.3%). Of which Villupuram is

the first district with 1,93,807 hectares irrigated by well-irrigation (50%).

Irrigation intensity (Ratio of gross area irrigated to net area irrigated) is around 1.24%

in Tamil Nadu of which Villupuram ranks second with an average of 1.50% Source of

ground water is high in blocks neighbouring to rivers.

Some of the blocks with high ground water source are Gingee,Marakkanam,

Melmalayanur, Thiyagadurugam, Thiruvannainallur,Ulundurpet and Vallam.

Brother Mentor

8

Some of the blocks with poor groundwater source are Kalrayan hills, Mailam, Mugaiyur

and Kallakurichi. Villupuram is water starved district. The erratic and deficit rainfall

over the last few years have brought down the water table

Reservoirs:

Besides river irrigation, reservoirs are considered as the best source of irrigation in

Villupuram district. Constructed across river to store vast quantity of water, reservoirs

can be used for irrigation in times of scarcity.

The important reservoirs of the district are Tirukovilur Anicut, Ellis Choultry Anicut,

Vadakkanandal Anicut, Veedur Reservoir and Sathanur reservoir.

Fisheries production

Villuppuram district has a coastal length of about 32 km in Vanur and Marakanam

blocks in Bay of Bengal. Inland fresh water area spreads over 83,014 ha and estuarine

& brackish water area is 2,072 ha.

There are about 19 landing centre patronized by active fishermen population of 2,986.

Fishermen co-operatives societies, fisher women co operative societies and inland

fishermen cooperative societies are functioning in the district. There is one fish net

making unit in Vanur block. There are about 18 brackish water aquaculture farms in

the district. The scope for inland fisheries in the district is limited. Inland fishing is

mostly carried out in tanks and reservoirs owned by PWD.

Animal husbandry and Dairy development:

Large number of farmers in Villupuram district depends on animal husbandry for their

livelihood. In addition to supplying milk, meat, eggs, wool and hides, animals, mainly

bullocks, are the major source of power for both farmers and dryer.

Brother Mentor

9

Thus, animal husbandry plays an important role in the rural economy. Moreover,

livestock sector provides supplementary employment and sustainable source of

income to many small and marginal farmers

As per census data of 2011, milch animal population was 3,60,086, goat was found to

be at 3,41,202 and sheep was found to be 2,58,986 in number, it is fairly good

population of livestock in the district, which is primarily because of excess plain area,

cultivation of fodders and availability of grazing land.

When census data of 2018 is compared with census data of 2011 and 2004, it is

observed that there is a steady increase in the population of milch animal since grazing

area and fodder production is more and milk collection societies are more in number.

Although there was a dip in the goat population in the year 2011 when compared to

2004, there is a increasing trend when compared to 2018. There was a dip in 2011

Livestock population which may be because of disease like blue tongue etc., Sheep

population seems to increase steadily because of value for its meat within the district

and also transported to neighbouring district.

Athiyur Goat and Sheep Shandy is very famous in Rishivanthiyam and

Sankarapuram Blocks and every week sales of Goat and sheep are approximately 3000

numbers, their meat rates of Female is Rs.200 per kg and male is Rs.250 per kg. Which

indicates that there is a good opportunity for meat (sheep and goat) farmer Producer

Company in the future.

Dairy Development:

Dairy sector is important not only as the producer of highly nutritious food products,

but also for the sustenance of poor farmers and over all prosperity of the farming

community.

The district holds about 536 milk societies at various blocks. Among the blocks,

Ulundurpet block possess the highest number of 73 societies followed by which,

Brother Mentor

10

Chinnasalem, Sankarapuram and Kallakuruchi block constitute above 40 milk

societies.

When compared to census data of 2011 (244871 litre per day), the

total milk production in the year 2018 (4119284 litre per day) was higher.

INDUSTRIAL SCENERIO

There is a good scope for industry in the Villupuram District.

Traditional industries like weaving of lunghi spread over at Gingee, Kandamangalam,

Kanai and Mugaiyur blocks of the district. Another traditional work of wood carving

spreads over at Kallakurichi and Chinna Salem Blocks of the district.

The main activity of this district (i.e.) Rice Mill is spread throughout the district and

particularly at Kallakurichi, Sankarapuram, Vikravandi and Ulunderpet Blocks. The

district has achieved self-sufficiency in the milk production and the surplus if any, can

be used for dairy products.

Blue metal industries are emerging at Mailam and Marakkanam blocks of the district.

Wheat products and food processing units are coming up at Vanur block.

Export of fish, frozen fruits and vegetables are having good scope in the coastal area of

Marakkanam Block of the district.

Oil extraction units are coming up in the district as the oil seeds production is growing

in the district. The main large-scale unit of the district is Sugar Mills which spread over

at Viluppuram Taluk and Kallakurichi, Sankarapuram blocks of the district.

The district is covered well with National Highway Roads and rail links of 180 km

length which facilitates more industries of various activities in the district. The district

provides enough scope for the development and growth of industries engaged in

printing, Oil extraction and hall mark jewellery.

Brother Mentor

11

Other Industrial Sectors:

Villupuram district is developing in industrial sector. The Sugar industry is the major

industry in the district. There are 7 sugar factories at Mundiyampakkam, Periasevalai,

Kacharapalliyam, Mungailthuraipattu.

In the area of small-scale industries there are 67 Rice mills, 17 Sago factories 5 Rice

bran oil extracting units and 8 Cotton Ginning Mills.

Besides this mineral water, ceramics, automobile workshop are also running in the

district. Work of wood carving spreads over at Kallakurichi and Chinna Salem Blocks

of the district.

Handloom in Villupuram district about 34 Handloom weavers co-operative societies

exist. Out of which only 26 societies are functioning, besides 2000 individual weavers

are engaging in this sector and produce silk sarees in Siruvanthadu at Kandamangalam

Block and cotton lungies too. Now the societies and weavers are facing the problem of

accumulated stock, high cost of production, competition from power loom sector and

they remain idle for most of the days. Traditional industries like weaving of lunghi

spreads over at Gingee, Kandamangalam, Kanai and Mugaiyur blocks of the

district.

DEMOGRAPHY

The population growth is significant in the whole district. According to the 1991 census

the district population is 27.56 lakhs, but it has increased to 29.60 lakhs in 2001.

Further it increased to 34 lakhs in 2011 census.

As far as sex ratio is concerned, during 1991, it ranged about 967 but it is worthy to

note that it is increased to 985 in 2001 and in 990 in 2011. It also finds that 380 people

live in per square kilo meters in 1991 and 412 people in 2001.

Brother Mentor

12

Decadal growth of Population in Villupuram District

Total Population of the district was 2960373 in 2001 and 3458873 in 2011. The

decadal Population growth (2001-2011) of the district was 16.8 which were higher

than decadal growth of the State (15.6 percent) block wise analysis indicated that

population had declined in Vanur block while in other blocks, it had increased. The

density of population per Sq.km has increased from 412 in 2001 to 481 in 2011.

The percentage of SC population has increased from 27.39 in 2001 to 29.37

in 2011.Kalrayan hills has the highest proportion of ST population (80%).

Sex ratio is 990 which is higher than all India average (940) but less than State average

(995). The child sex ratio is quite low with 938 though there has been remarkable

improvement over a period.

Incidents of female infanticides were less in the district and therefore the ratio of men

and women were almost equal which is significant when compared to other districts.

Brother Mentor

13

Sex Ratio of Villupuram district

The overall literacy rate of the district is 71.81% compared to State average of 80.1%.

Literacy rate among the female is low (62.99%) while compared to the male literacy

rate of 80.63 percent. Female literacy is absolutely low in Kalrayan hills (44.44%)

block.

Villupuram district is surrounded by major industries which attracts many labourers

sometimes even provokes them to forego school education. Incidents of early marriage

and inhibition to adapt to school education to urban area from rural areas are

reasons for low literacy rate and low female literacy rate.

The workforce population of the district has recorded a decadal increase by 1.4 per

cent. The total workforce of the district is 17.03 lakh, of which around 58 percentages

are male workers and the rest are female workers. Main workers constitute almost

three fourth of the workers (72 per cent) and one-fourth (28%) are marginal workers.

Non-workers have recorded a slight decrease of 0.42 percentages.

Variations could be observed across the blocks. The total workforce of the district is 17

lakhs (2011). The workforce accounts for 49.24 percentage of the total population. The

district has higher proportion of workforce population compared to the State average

(45.58%)

Brother Mentor

14

Agricultural labourers constitute 48.86% of the total work force. Other workers

constitute 27.19 per cent and Cultivators account for 21.70 per cent. Agricultural

labourers predominant the workforce.

Majority of the workers are in the unorganized sector. The proportion of male

workforce is 58.4 percentages while female workforce is 39.9 per cent. However, the

percentage of female workforce is high in Kalrayan hills (56%) could be due to

involvement of women in forest related works.

Heritage sites

Ozhindiampattu

This is the 31st temple in the Thondainadu region praised in Thevaram hymns. "Abath

Sahayeswarar Lord Shiva Temple" is located in the entrance of village.

This temple is part of the Koperunchingan kadavarayan fort and it was destroyed many

years ago. Now this temple has been undertaken by the Central government and

the restoration work is progressing. This village is in NH 45 and is next to Gedilam

river.

Thirukoilur

Thiruvikkrama Lord Vishnu Swamy & Vedavalli Thaayaar (Vaamana vathaaram)

temple is located in the center of this town. This temple comes under 108 Divya

Desams. In the east of the town is the Sivan Temple situated on the banks of River

Thenpennai. Near to the temple, in the river, there exists Kabilar (Saint) Kundru (tiny

mountain). On the banks of River Pinakini, we can find the Moola brindavana of Sri

Raghuutthama Teertha (1595 AD) and Sri Satyapramoda Teertha (1997), very eminent

pontiffs of the Uttaradi Mutt of Madhwa lineage. One of the famous Jyotir ling mutts.

Melmalaiyanur

Melmalaiyanur is famous for its Ankaala Parameswari temple which is thronged by

devotees on new moon days.

Brother Mentor

15

Anniyur

Anniyur is famous for two important temples of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. They are

located inside the village. The Saneeswaran statue inside an shiva temple is an

important one.

Mailam

Mailam is famous for its Murugan temple atop a hilllock. It is located off the National

Highway proceeding to Chennai from Villupuram

Thenpair

Thenpair village is very near to Vikravandi are famous Kaaliyamman Kovil is located

here.

IMPACTS

i) Urbanization

The proportion of urban population to total population has increased. Among the

urban areas, Villupuram municipality accounts for a greater share of urban population

when compared to the other urban areas. The estimated sewage generation is 31 lakh

litres among municipalities and 54.32 lakh litres among town panchayats. There have

been 13.30 lakh litres, sewerage disposal from Town Panchayats.

The level of solid waste generated by municipalities and town panchayats are 12

tonnes and 40.80 tonnes respectively. The solid waste collection in municipalities and

town panchayats is 90%.

It was observed that 70% of the solid waste was compostable on wet basis, 6% of

bricks and stones and 24% of rags, wooden matter, rubber & leather, plastics, etc., are

compostable in the district.

Brother Mentor

16

ii) Industrial development

Villuppuram district is developing in the industrial sector. Sugar is the major industry

in the district. There are 4 sugar factories at Mundiyampakkam, Periasevalai,

Kacharapalliyam and Mungailthuraipattu.

In the area of small scale industries there are 67 rice mills, 17 sago factories, 5 rice bran

oil extracting units and 8 cotton ginning mills. Besides there mineral water, ceramics,

automobile workshop are also running in the district.

iii) Natural hazards

As any other coastal environment, coast of Villupuram district also gets affected with

regular erosion and accretion. Sea level rise and elevation in sea surface temperature

are also seen here as the consequences of global climate change.

iv) Natural disaster prone areas

It has been ascertained from the available information that only 8 taluks and 22 blocks

were affected by flood in the years 1992-94 and affected by cyclone in the years

1993-94. Banana cultivation faces the cyclone havoc most frequently.

*********************************************************************************

Brother Mentor

17