Konaseema district | |
|---|---|
| Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district | |
     Clockwise from top-left: Bhimeswara temple atDraksharama, Crop fields in Yeditha, Street ofAmalapuram,Antarvedi Beach,Gummileru Jain Temple | |
.svg) Location of Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh | |
 Interactive map outlining district | |
| Coordinates:16°36′N82°00′E / 16.6°N 82.0°E /16.6; 82.0 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Coastal Andhra |
| Formed | 4 April 2022 |
| Founded by | Government of Andhra Pradesh |
| Headquarters | Amalapuram |
| Government | |
| • District collector | Mahesh Kumar IAS |
| • Superintendent of Police | P Sridhar IPS[1] |
| • Lok Sabha constituencies | 01 |
| • Assembly constituencies | 07 |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,081.2 km2 (803.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 1,719,093 |
| • Density | 826.01/km2 (2,139.4/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Website | konaseema |
Konaseema district (officiallyDr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district) is adistrict inKonaseema region ofAndhra Pradesh inIndia. It is situated between the tributaries of theGodavari River in theCoastal Andhra. It was carved out ofEast Godavari district on 4 April 2022 by theGovernment of Andhra Pradesh.Amalapuram is the district headquarters and the largest city in this district. The district shares boundaries withWest Godavari,East Godavari andKakinada districts.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district is situated in the delta of the Godavari River. The land in this region is considered highly fertile, and its economy is primarily based on agriculture,[3] especially with a focus on rice and coconut cultivation.[4] Mangrove forests are present in the northeast of the district.[5] Apart from theRamachandrapuram revenue division, the district lies between the two branches of theGodavari River. The Godavari divides into two components, namelyGautami andVasishtha,[6] forming an island which is calledKonaseema.[7]
This district is surrounded to the north byEast Godavari district, south bythe Bay of Bengal, east byKakinada district and west byWest Godavari district.[8]
On 26 January 2022 theAndhra Pradesh Cabinet made a significant decision to create 13 new districts, and among them, the proposal for the Konaseema district was approved.[9][10] On 4 April 2022 the chief ministerY. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy virtually inaugurated all 13 new districts, officially establishing Konaseema district.[11][12] However, on 18 May 2022, the government initiated discussions about renaming Konaseema district in honour ofB. R. Ambedkar, leading to violent protests on 24 May 2022, during which protesters set ablaze the home oftransport ministerPinipe Viswarup.[13][14] Subsequently, on 24 June 2022, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet endorsed the gazette notification issued on May 18, officially approving the renaming of the district.[15][16][17] Finally, on 2 August 2022, Konaseema district was officially renamed to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. The change took effect on that date, as announced in the gazette notification by theGovernor of Andhra Pradesh.
The notification stated:
the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, in the interests of public, after having published proposals in that regard as required under sub-section (5) of Section 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Districts (formation) Act, 1974 (Act No.7 of 1974), and having taken into consideration the objections and suggestions received thereon all persons in the areas concerned and likely to be affected thereby, do hereby notify to change the existing name of the Konaseema district as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district[18]
There is one parliamentary and seven assembly constituencies in the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. The parliamentary constituency isAmalapuram (Lok Sabha constituency), and the assembly constituencies are listed below.[19]
| Constituency number | Name | Reserved for (SC/ST/None) | Parliament |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Ramachandrapuram | None | Amalapuram |
| 43 | Mummidivaram | None | |
| 44 | Amalapuram | SC | |
| 45 | Razole | SC | |
| 46 | Gannavaram | SC | |
| 47 | Kothapeta | None | |
| 48 | Mandapeta | None |
The district is divided into 3 revenue divisions:Amalapuram,Kothapeta andRamachandrapuram, each of which is further subdivided into a total of 22mandals, with each mandal being headed by a sub-collector.[20]
The list of 22 mandals in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district,[21] divided into 3 revenue divisions, is given below.[22]
The district underwent reorganization in 2022, resulting in the presence of one Grade 1 municipality,[23] two Grade 2 municipalities,[24] and one Nagar Panchayat.[25]
| Largest towns and villages in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Revenue division | Civil Status | Population |
| 1 | Mandapeta | Ramachandrapuram | Municipality Grade - 2 | 65,406 |
| 2 | Amalapuram | Amalapuram | Municipality Grade - 1 | 53,231 |
| 3 | Ramachandrapuram | Ramachandrapuram | Municipality Grade - 2 | 43,657 |
| 4 | Mummidivaram | Amalapuram | Nagar Panchayat | 25,355 |
| 5 | Kothapeta | Kothapeta | Gram Panchayat | 24,539 |
| 6 | Rayavaram | Ramachandrapuram | Gram Panchayat | 17,361 |
| 7 | Razole | Amalapuram | Gram Panchayat | 13,597 |
| 8 | Bandarulanka | Amalapuram | Gram Panchayat | 11,470 |
| 9 | Alamuru | Kothapeta | Gram Panchayat | 9,723 |
| 10 | P. Gannavaram | Kothapeta | Gram Panchayat | 9,459 |
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 97.41% | |||
| Christianity | 1.39% | |||
| Islam | 1.04% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.16% | |||
| Distribution of religions | ||||
At the time of the 2011 census, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district had a population of 1,719,093, of which 164,421 (9.56%) lived in urban areas. Konaseema district had a sex ratio of 994 females per 1000 males.[27] Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes comprised 427,130 (24.85%) and 13,481 (0.78%).[2]
Telugu is the predominant language, spoken by 99.41% of the population.[28]
The region has a diverse folk culture with their regional gods. In the heart of the Godavari Delta, Konaseema is one of the only two regions in India, apart fromKerala, where a large community still practices traditionalShrauta rituals. These traditions have largely fallen out of use in the rest of India, making it a favoured destination for scholars seeking to understand ancient Vedic culture.[29] Most of theDalits, like in most ofCoastal Andhra, areChristians - both Catholic and Protestant.[30]
Sankranti is observed as the major festival in the Konaseema region. The people of Konaseema commemorate the 400-year-old tradition of'Prabhala Teertham' on Kanuma, the third day of the Sankranti festival.[31] This unique celebration is set to gain national attention as a tableau representing the Konaseema festival will feature in the Republic Day parade inNew Delhi on January 26.[32]
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district boasts numerous tourist attractions, including the picturesqueAntarvedi, Chirra Yanam, andOdalarevu beaches.[33][34][35] A notable 2nd-century CE Buddhist archaeological site can be found inAdurru village.[36] Additionally, theAndhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation operates resorts inDindi, providing tourists with the opportunity to indulge in the scenic beauty of the Konaseema backwaters.[37]
Among the district's religious landmarks, Sri Vighneswara Swamy Devasthanam inAinavilli,[38] Lord Venkateshwara Temple inAppanapalli,[39]Lakshmi Narasimha Temple inAntarvedi,[40] and Bhimeswara Swamy Temple inDraksharamam[41] are renowned for their cultural and historical significance.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district has efficient connectivity through state and national highways, namelyNH216,NH216A, and NH216E, which diverge from NH16 and pass through the region.[42][43] Furthermore,APSRTC has bus depots in Amalapuram, Ravulapalem, and Ramachandrapuram,[44] operating bus services to villages within the district and connecting to various towns and cities in Andhra Pradesh andTelangana.[45]
The district is currently served by four railway stations.Dwarapudi railway station andKesavaram railway station on theHowrah-Chennai main line, andKotipalli railway station and Ramachandrapuram railway station[46] on the Kakinada - Kotipalli line. Additionally, the Kakinada - Kotipalli - Narsapur railway line is currently under construction, including the development of a bridge over the Godavari river.[47] Upon completion, this railway line will include a stop at the district headquarters,Amalapuram railway station, enhancing connectivity in the region.[48][49] Among the major railway stations in proximity to the district areRajahmundry railway station andNarasapur railway station.
The district lacks airport, with the closest domestic options beingRajahmundry Airport at a distance of 75.5 kilometres (46.9 mi) andVijayawada Airport at 170 kilometres (110 mi) from the district headquarters, Amalapuram. For international travel, the nearest airports areVisakhapatnam Airport, situated 219 kilometres (136 mi) away, andRajiv Gandhi International Airport, located 474 kilometres (295 mi) away.[50][51]
Capital:Amaravati | |
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