Kirandul

Kirandul
town
Kirandul Show map of Chhattisgarh Kirandul Show map of India
Coordinates: 18°37′16″N 81°16′54″E / 18.62111°N 81.28163°E / 18.62111; 81.28163Coordinates: 18°37′16″N 81°16′54″E / 18.62111°N 81.28163°E / 18.62111; 81.28163
Country	India[1]
State	Chhattisgarh
District	Dantewada
Elevation	540 m (1,770 ft)
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Chhattisgarhi
• Other	Gondi, Telugu, Koya
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	494556[2]
Telephone code	+91(0)-7857
Vehicle registration	CG-18
Website	dantewada.gov.in

Kirandul is a city and a municipality in the Dantewada district^[3] in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[4] Kirandul had a population of 19,053. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Kirandul has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 65%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 74%. In Kirandul, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Region

This region is basically a plateau.^[5] The Bailadila Range of hills are located at a distance of about 40 km south west of Dantewada, the district headquarters in Chhattisgarh State.

Climate

Bailadila region enjoys mild summer and winter is not severe. The maximum temperature in summer rises up to 40 degree Celsius between May and June whereas minimum temperature in winter drops to 10 degree Celsius. The area receives heavy rains during monsoon from June to October. Weather during rainy season is stormy accompanied by gales and the hilltops are covered with thick clouds and dense fog, which reduces visibility.

History

The Commercial discovery of Bailadila dates back to 1955-56 when Prof. Euemura of Japanese Steel Mills Association,^[7] studying the memoirs of Geological Survey of India, drew the attention of the Japanese Steel Mills to the richness of the vast deposits of iron ore and its proximity to the Eastern Coast of India. Later an agreement had been signed with the Japanese Steel Mills in 1960.^[8] An approval of the project report prepared by NMDC was given in 1964 and the Mine Plant had been inaugurated on November 1968.Later on, National Mineral Development Corporation, with help of Japan set up the first iron ore plant in Kirandul.

Kirandul was a crucial part of the princely state of Bastar before India attained independence. This city prospered under the reign of King Annama Deva, the brother of Kakatiya king Pratapa Rudra Deva of Warangal (Telangana). During the 19th century, the city came under the administration of the British rule. It was included as part of Central Provinces and Berar for the ease of British administration. Eventually, it was acceded to the Indian Union on January 1, 1948, and the city became a part of the bastar district of Madhya Pradesh and later in 2000, it was included in the newly formed Chhattisgarh state.^[9]

Mining

The iron ore mines here are also an important tourist attraction. Run by the Navratna Organization,'NMDC',^[10] these mines operate with the latest technology and hi-tech machinery. However, one needs to obtain permit to visit the mines, which can be done by requesting the NMDC office.The Bailadila iron ore range extends for a length of 40 km with a width of about 10 km mostly along the top of hill,which constitute one of the richest concentration of iron-ore of world. The range contains 1200 million tonnes of high grade [iron ore] distributed in 14 deposits.14 reserves have been discovered, of which 3 are being mined. The entire area was brought to the mainstream of civilisation by the spectacular effort of NMDC by opening-up of mines. Today, Bailadila is a name to reckon with in the world iron ore market because of its super high-grade iron ore.^[11] Bailadila complex possesses the world’s best grade of hard lumpy ore having +66% iron content, free from sulphur and other deleterious material and the best physical properties needed for steel making.^[12]

Transport

Kirandul is easily accessible and well connected to Raipur, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad by all-weather roads. It can also be reached by rail from Visakhapatnam.There is regular iron ore movement from this sector to Visakhapatnam port by rail.^[13] The K-K line^[14] from Visakhapatnam to Kirandul via Araku is laid through eastern ghats. Up to Araku station it has many tunnels.^[15] Also it pass through the highest elevation Broad gauge station in the Eastern ghats, Similiguda, just before Borra caves(Officially,under Odisha Government).Kirandul - Kottavalasa Railroad^[16] is the record high Broad Gauge line in the Eastern Ghats.The KK Line has the distinction of being the second highest railway line in the country after the one in Jammu^[17]].The highest point of the railway line is at Simliguda, which is 996 metres from the mean sea level.

Air transport

There is an airport at Jagdalpur but no scheduled services are currently run to or from here. The airport is predominantly used by political leaders and insurgency operation related activities by the army and the police. The nearest airport is Raipur Airport in the capital city of Raipur and Visakhapatnam Airport, Andhra Pradesh.^[18]

References

External links

• Official website Dantewada district

State of Chhattisgarh
Capital: Raipur (Legislative) Naya Raipur (Administrative)
Governance	Legislature Chief Ministers Governors Raj Bhavan High Court Police
Topics	Education Election Language Music People Highest point
Districts	Balod Baloda Bazar Balrampur Bastar Bemetara Bijapur Bilaspur Dantewada Dhamtari Durg Gariaban Janjgir–Champa Jashpur Kawardha Kanker Kondagaon Korba Koriya Mahasamund Mungeli Narayanpur Raigarh Raipur Rajnandgaon Sukma Surajpur Surguja
Cities	Ambikapur Bhilai Bilaspur Charoda Dhamtari Durg Jagdalpur Korba Naya Raipur Raipur Raigarh Rajnandgaon
Chhattisgarh