Ballari district

Earlier Ballari district was part of Madras presidency. The area was severely affected by the Great Famine of 1876–78. After Indian independence, when the Indian states were reorganized along linguistic lines, Ballari became part of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region of the state of Karnataka. Now renamed as Kalyana-Karnataka

Ballari district is spread from southwest to northeast and is situated on the eastern side of Karnataka state. The district is 15° 30’ and 15°50’ north latitude and 75° 40’ and 77° 11’ east longitude. The geographical area is 8447 km².

This district is bounded by Raichur District on the north, Koppal District on the west, Chitradurga District and Davanagere District on the south, and Anantapur District and Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh on the east.

The normal rainfall is 639  mm.

Ballari comes under the administrative control of Gulbarga division and development jurisdiction of H.K.D.B, Gulbarga.

It has 2 revenue sub divisions, Ballari subdivision and Hosapete subdivision, which in all have seven taluks. The Ballari subdivision has 3 taluks, while there are four taluks in the Hosapete subdivision. There are 27 hoblies, one Corporation, one City Municipal Council, two town municipality, six town panchayats, 542 revenue villages, and 436 thandas/habitations.

According to the 2011 census Bellary district has a population of 2,532,383,[4] roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait[5] or the US state of Nevada.[6] This gives it a ranking of 168th in India (out of a total of 640).[4] The district has a population density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometer (780/sq mi).[4] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 24.92%.[4] Bellary has a sex ratio of 978 females for every 1000 males,[4] and a literacy rate of 67.85%.[4]

Location of the Bellary district with respect to the other Districts in Karnataka

The district consists of one Indian Parliament constituency and nine Karnataka Legislative Assembly constituencies. These are

88. Hadagali (SC),

89. Hagaribommanahalli (SC),

90. Vijayanagara (GEN),

91. Kampli (ST),

92. Siruguppa (ST),

93. Ballari (ST),

94. Ballari City (GEN),

95. Sandur (ST),

96. Kudligi (ST),

104. Harpanahalli (GEN).

The Assembly constituency of Siruguppa and Harpanahalli are part of the parliamentary constituency of Koppal and Davanagere respectively.

The major occupation of this district is agriculture and 75% of its total labour force is dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. The important crops grown are cotton, jowar, groundnuts, rice, sunflowers and cereals. The net irrigated area is 37% of the net area sown.

As of 1998, the main source of irrigation is Tungabhadra Dam. The canal network accounts for 64% of the district's irrigated area. Important rivers are Tungabhadra, Hagari and Chikkahagari. The western taluks of the district have been plagued by low rainfall for successive years. However, during the current and preceding years, heavy rains have created havoc in the district leaving many in the lurch.

Ballari district is rich in natural resources that need to be tapped to a great extent for the overall development of the district. This district is endowed with rich mineral resources. It has both metallic and non-metallic minerals. The metallic minerals include iron ore, manganese ore, gold, copper and lead. The non-metallic minerals include andalusite, asbestos, corundum, clay, dolomite, limestone, limekankan, molding sand, quartz, soap stone, granite and red ochre. The metallic minerals are abundant is only three talukas, Sanduru, Hosapete and Ballari in the order of mining activity intensity. The annual production of Iron ore is anywhere between 2.75 and 4.5 million tonnes, and manganese ore between 0.13 million tonnes to 0.30 million tonnes (1991). Ballari presently is the second-fastest-growing city in the state of Karnataka after Bengaluru. The real estate prices have already started to shoot as more and more industries are finding their way into this city. Ballari to its credit has the second largest single rock mountain in the world.[1]

Ballari district has 25% of India's Iron ore reserves. Till 1994 handful of mining companies operated here including state-owned NMDC. Later Govt issued mining licenses to many private operators. Mining Industry boomed with a surge in Iron Ore prices due to demand from emerging China. Mining license allocation policy from Central govt was based on Political Nepotism rather than merit. Flawed mining policy leads to widespread illegal mining. Since the year 2000 money from illegal money flowed into electoral politics of Karnataka State. This led to the emergence of powerful Reddy Brothers to state politics. Reddy brothers fueled money from illegal mining into politics, thereby King Makers of Karnataka State politics. Ombudsman's report on mining in Karnataka state found that the promoters of privately owned mining companies in the Bellary region paid off politicians, and then joined politics themselves, rising to positions in the Karnataka state government. These mining businessmen-turned-politicians exerted so much influence over the local officials that the Indian media began describing Bellary as a "new republic".[2][3]

Despite the availability of minerals in large quantities, this district is considered to be an industrially backward district. There are 23 units of large and medium scale industries in this district with an investment of Rs.447.76 crores employing around 9,222 persons At present it occupies ninth place in the state. Sathavahana Ispat Ltd. is the first Pig Iron plant set up in the region to utilize the abundant iron ore reserves available, Kirloskar was the next to follow with their Pig Iron plant. However, with the commissioning of Jindal Vijayanagar Steel Limited at Hosapete, the industry scenario of this district underwent sea changes. It is understood that Mukand Steels and Kalyani Steels have started industries in this area. The inflow of investment into these industries would be around Rs.30,000 Crores. The district will, therefore, come under heavy pressure on basic infrastructure such as power, communication, health, education, and police stations which again invite heavy investment to create the needed infrastructure. Urgent action is needed to pool the resources under various sectors such as District Sector, State sector, Border Area Development, HKDB etc., and prepare a perspective plan to the emerging challenges. It has already drawn the attention of social scientists economists, administrators and other related functionaries to think over the possible positive and negative impact in this area. The ruthless and illegal mining of iron ore in the district has caused environmental damage and also a wide-ranging social and economic impact.

According to the 2011 census Bellary district has a population of 2,452,595,[5] roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait[6] or the US state of Nevada.[7] This gives it a ranking of 168th in India (out of a total of 640).[5] The district has a population density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometre (780/sq mi) .[5] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 24.92%.[5] Bellary has a sex ratio of 978 females for every 1000 males,[5] and a literacy rate of 67.85%.[5]

• 311 km from Bangalore is Bellary Fort, a historic fort.
• 353 km from Bangalore and 74 km from Bellary is Hampi, known for the ruins of Vijayanagara.
• 300 km from Bangalore and 60 km from Bellary is Bommghatta, known for its Hindu temple which hosts the deity Hanuman as Hulikunteraya.
• 300 km from Bangalore and 85 km from Bellary is Timmalapura, known for its temple to Sri Krishna.

By Air: The nearest airport is Vidyanagar Airport.The airport is connected with Banglore and Hyderbad daily. A new airport is under construction in Bellary city outscrits.

By Rail: The district has two main junctions at Bellary Railway Station and Hospete Railway Station.The two junctions are connected with major junctions in both North and South India.

By Road: The district has main National Highway 67.The district is connected with Bidar-SRI Rangapatna Highway. Nekrtc play buses in bellary.

Janardhan Reddy:Janardhan Reddy is a Bjp member. He was a former minister in the BS YEDDURAPPA government. He was sentenced to jail for 3 years. He has an asset of 1000cr.

B Sriramulu: is BJP vice president of Karnataka. He is a former minister in BS Yeddyurappa government. He was a close associate of JANARDHAN REDDY.

MP PRAKASH:Mp Prakesh is a former DyCM of Karnataka. He hails from Bellary District.

Somashekar reddy:Bellary city Mla.

Karunakar Reddy:Former Minister and MLA Harapanahalli.

Anand singh:Hospet Mla and former minister.

E Tukram:Sandur Mla and former minister.

B Nagendra:Bellary Rural Mla.

Pt paramaeshwar Naik:Former minister and Mla.

Kc Kondaih:Former Mp and Mlc.

Allum Veerabhadrappa:Mlc and former Kpcc Precident.

Y Devendrappa:Mp Bellary(ST)

Somalingappa:Mla Sirguppa.

Lbp Bheemanaik:Mla Hagaribommanahalli.

People of hospet demanded separate districts for their region. Key person who demanded was Hospet MLA Anand Singh.

• Narsapur, Karnataka

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bellary district.

• Official website
• Incredible India Hampi Guide
• Info on Hampi .