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Akola
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the municipality in Maharashtra, India. For its namesake district, see Akola district. For other uses, see Akola (disambiguation).
| Akola अकोला آکولہ | |
| Cotton City | |
| — metropolitan city — | |
   Akolaअकोला آکولہ Location of Akola अकोला آکولہ in Maharashtra and India | |
| Coordinates |  20°42′N 77°00′ECoordinates: 20°42′N 77°00′E |
| Country | India |
| Region | Vidarbha |
| State | Maharashtra |
| Population • Density • Metro • Urban | 1,818,617 (2011) • 3,437 /km2 (8,902 /sq mi) • 427,146 • 427146 |
| Literacy | 87.61% |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area • Elevation | 54.31 square kilometres (20.97 sq mi) • 282 metres (925 ft) |
| Codes[show] | |
| Website | akola.nic.in |
Akola district has an area of about 54.31 square kilometers and population of 1,818,617 (2011 census). It is the third largest city in Vidarbha region after Nagpur and Amravati. Marathi is the most popular spoken language, though Hindi, English and Urdu are also used. Akola District is bordered on the north and east by Amravati District, on the south by Washim District, and on the west by Buldhana District.
Akola, also called Cotton City, is known for its cotton production and is the largest cotton-producing district in India. The city is also famous for its pulses (dal), oil, and textile mills. Akola is also known for its medical facilities. It is a major center for advanced medical treatments, such as the Elizarov Technique, IVF. Major hospitals in Akola include the Civil Hospital, Chaudhary Hospital, Akola Critical Care Unit and Ozone Hospital.
Dainik Deshonnati, one of the most circulated Marathi newspapers in the Vidharbha region, originated from Akola. Other prominent newspapers published from Akola include Lokmat and Dainik Matrubhumi.
| Contents [show] |
[edit] History
Akola Fort - a part of history preserved. Akola District along with the rest of the Berar province was part of the legendary kingdom of Vidarbha mentioned in the Mahabharata. Barar also formed part of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Asoka (272 to 231 BCE). Berar later came under the rule of the Satavahana dynasty (2nd century BCE–2nd century CE), the Vakataka dynasty (3rd to 6th centuries), the Chalukya dynasty (6th to 8th centuries), the Rashtrakuta dynasty (8th to 10th centuries), the Chalukyas again (10th to 12th centuries) and finally the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri (late 12th to early 14th centuries). A period of Muslim rule began when Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, conquered the region in the early 14th century. The region was part of the Bahmani Sultanate, which broke away from the Delhi Sultanate in the mid-14th century. The Bahmani Sultanate broke up into smaller sultanates at the end of the 15th century, and in 1572 Berar became part of the Nizam Shahi sultanate, based at Ahmadnagar. The Nizam Shahis ceded Berar to the Mughal Empire in 1595. The Mughals ruled the BBerar province during 17th century. As Mughal rule started to unravel at the start of the 18th century, Asaf Jah I, Nizam of Hyderabad seized the southern provinces of the empire (including Berar) in 1724, forming an independent state.But the rise of Maratha Empire (from 1674 to 1760) under the command of Chhatrapati Shivaji succeeded by his son Sambhaji and grandson Shahu brought the whole Berar province including Akola district under the Maratha Empire around 1734. In 1749 at the time of his death, Shahu appointed the Peshwa as the head of the Maratha Empire with certain conditions to follow. The loss in the third battle of Panipat in 1761 weakened the Maratha Empire and corrupted the power of Peshwa forever. The Berar province remained under the Marathas.
The Battle of Argaon, (or Adgaon near Akot) in took place on the 28th of November 1803 between the British under the command of Governor Arthur Wellesley and the forces of Maratha under Bhonsle of Nagpur during Second Anglo-Maratha War. In the third Anglo-Maratha War, the last Peshwa Baji Rao II, was defeated by the British. In 1853, Akola district together with the rest of Berar came under the administration of the British East India Company. Berar was divided into East and West Berar with Akola district being included in West Berar. In 1903, Berar was leased to the Nizam of Hyderabad by the British East India Company in return of the debt.
After India gained its Independence in 1947, the states and provinces were reorganized in 1956. Berar was divided among different states. Akola became a part of bilingual Bombay state which was further divided into two states in 1960. Akola became a part of the new Maharashtra State. The Narnala fort, Akot fort, Akola fort and Balapur Fort are some of the famous monuments in Akola.
[edit] Geography and climate
Sundarabai Khandelwal Tower is a landmark of Akola city. Akola is located at latitude 20.7° North and longitude 77.07° East. It is located at an altitude of 925 ft (282m) above sea level. The climate is tropical, and people predominately wear cotton clothes. Akola has a National Weather Station which serves as the local weather center. Annual temperatures range from a high of 48°C (118°F) to a low of 10°C (50°F). Akola lies on the Tropic of Cancer and becomes very hot during the summer, especially in May. Although it can be very hot in the day, it is cool at night. The annual rainfall averages 850 mm. Most of the rainfall occurs in the monsoon season between June and September, but some rain does fall during January and February.On the north, Akola is bordered by the Melghat Hills and forest region. Morna River flows through Akola. Purna River forms a part of the north border of the district, and the top north portion of the district lies within its watershed along with Aas River and Shahnur River. Vaan River forms a part of the northwest boundary of the district after entering from the Amravati district. Maan River drains the southwestern portion of the district. Morna River drains the mid-south portion of the district, while the southeast is drained by the Katepurna and Uma rivers.
Some of the rivers in Akola and their tributaries are Purna, Uma, Katepurna, Shahnur, Morna, Man, Aas and Vaan. There are many dams in Akola district. Mahan located on Katepurna river is one of them. There have been floods in 1978, 1992, and 2003.
| [hide]Climate data for Akola | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 29.9 (85.8) | 33.2 (91.8) | 37.2 (99.0) | 40.7 (105.3) | 42.1 (107.8) | 37.4 (99.3) | 32.0 (89.6) | 30.5 (86.9) | 32.1 (89.8) | 38.8 (101.8) | 31.5 (88.7) | 29.4 (84.9) | 34.57 (94.22) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 13.5 (56.3) | 15.7 (60.3) | 20.0 (68.0) | 24.8 (76.6) | 28.0 (82.4) | 26.1 (79.0) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.0 (73.4) | 20.1 (68.2) | 15.9 (60.6) | 13.2 (55.8) | 20.65 (69.17) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 7.8 (0.307) | 4.5 (0.177) | 11.0 (0.433) | 5.1 (0.201) | 6.6 (0.26) | 146.3 (5.76) | 210.7 (8.295) | 199.7 (7.862) | 122.0 (4.803) | 45.4 (1.787) | 19.5 (0.768) | 14.2 (0.559) | 792.8 (31.213) |
Industry  Mahabeej Bhavan, Akola. The Akola MIDC Industrial Area has three prominent industrial zones on the outskirts of the city. The total land under Akola MIDC Industrial area is 6.25 km2. There are about 25 factories (3 large factories and 22 small factories) currently in production and another 10 small factories are in the process of being constructed. Maharashtra Government has sanctioned growth centres close to Akola MIDC area. An application of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for setting up an Agro- processing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Akola district has been approved.[edit] Entertainment Hindi, Marathi and English movies are screened in eight cinema halls in Akola city. A four screen multiplex theatre BIG Cinemas recently opened in Akola. Marathi dramas starring prominent actors are frequently enacted in Pramilatai Oak Hall and Open Air Theatre located on Mahtma Gandhi Road. Akola has its own FM radio channel run by All India Radio (AIR). Recently a private FM radio channel Radio City 91.1 FM has also started broadcasting. The city has a Television Relay Centre and re-broadcasts on its Channel-1 the National Programmes from Delhi & Sahyadri Mumbai's Marathi programmes. Also it re-broadcast (DD-II's) DD News programmes from Delhi on its Channel-2. The Television Centre is managed by the Doordarshan Maintenance Centre, Akola, a circle centre headed by a senior officer designated as the Station Engineer. It also broadcasts narrow-casting programmes for the farmers of the region. The software for which is supplied by DDK-Nagpur through recording programmes at PKV-Akola and various Departments of the State Government of Maharashtra. [edit] Education  Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) Akola - Agricultural University. [edit] Higher education Akola has a famous Agricultural University Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth founded by Late Dr Gopalrao Khedkar (PDKV or PKV). The university attracts students from far distances for its Agricultural Engineering and Technology courses. All other professional colleges in Akola are affiliated with Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University. Other courses are offered such as Engineering at (Shivaji Engineering College, Akola COETA) and Medical Science colleges as Government Medical College, Akola and Jamnalal Goenka Dental College. Other prominently known colleges of Akola city are Shankarlal Khandelwal College of Science, Commerce and Arts, RLT College of Science,[2] LRT Commerce College, Shivaji Arts, Commerce and Science College, Sitabai Arts College, Radha Devi Goenka Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Sudhakarrao Naik Arts and Commerce College, RT Ayurvedic Mahavidyalaya, Government. College of Education, Tirupati Tantra Niketan and KM Asghar Husain Junior Art, Commerce and Science College, Akola Law College. Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering (SSGMCE) at Shegaon (in Buldhana District) is a renowned engineering college of the region and located is 45 km away from Akola city. NCC's 11 MAH Battalion is based in Akola. The battalion is situated on the outskirts of the city near Jawaharlal Nehru Public Park. [edit] School Education Most schools in Akola are affiliated to Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. The Municipal Corporation controls all public schools in the city. Some reputed schools, which have produced meritorious students, including state and division toppers include D.A.V English School, Jubilee English School, Holy Cross Convent School, Mount Carmel High School, Usman Azad Urdu High School, Quba School, Rahbar Convent, Suffah English School, Noel English High School, Hindu Dnyanpeeth Convent, Nishu Nursery and Kothari Convent, Bal Shivaji High School, Bharat Vidyalaya and Jagruti Vidyalaya and Prabhat Kids School. [edit] Agriculture  A full grown cotton plant. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in rural parts of the region. Cotton, soybean and Jawar (Sorghum) are the essential crops grown in the district. Other important crops of the region are wheat, sunflower, canola, peanut, Bajra (Pearl Millet), Harbara (Chick Peas), Toor (Pigeon Peas), Urad and Moong (Green Gram), etc. Most crops are dependent on the monsoon. Only 15% of Maharashtra's gross cropped area is irrigated, compared with the national average of 32.9% in 1989–90. Vidarbha's Amravati division's (including Akola District) share of gross cropped area under irrigation of 9%.Considered one of Maharashtra's least developed regions, Vidarbha has seen not only farmer's suicides but also deaths caused by malnutrition. In some tribal are major reasons[clarification needed] of recent suicide deaths of farmers in the Akola region and other surrounding parts of Vidarbha, which has rang alarming bells in the Maharashtra State Government and Government of India. Bharat Krishak Samaj, one of the leading organization of farmers in India, is very active in Akola region. It has played a crucial role in promoting the voice of the common farmers of the Vidarbha region to the attention of the Indian Government under the chairmanship of Prakash Shriram Mankar . Vidarbha region has long demanded a separate state to support the economy and agriculture of this region, which has been neglected by the Maharashtra State Government in all sectors[citation needed]. The Government of India's intervention has failed to provide government aid packages and has also failed to bring any change in the working conditions of the farmers of this region[citation needed]. Oil and Dal mills are becoming rampant in this region because of the crops taken. Textile mills are also increasing to support the cotton growing industry. uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-30656-0-09708700-1330546349_thumb.gifuploads/monthly_02_2012/post-30656-0-55637600-1330546316_thumb.gifSource: IMD | |||||||||||||
