Ponnur

Ponnur is a town in Guntur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Its Sanskrit name was Swarna or golden. Ponnur (Tamil : Pon = Gold ) being Tamil form of name given probably by Chola Kings. Sri Sri Sri Bhaava Naaraayana Swaamy Vaari temple has inscriptions about a record of grant by Kulotthunga Chola I in A.D.1191. There was a festival on full moon day in May.[4] A road to Tsandavolu goes south-east and comes to Nidubrolu, where is a temple with a stone bearing inscription recording the erection of temple in A.D. 1132 [5]. An ancient Telugu manuscript entitled 'Ponnuru-Chandavolu Shasanam' was present in Potti Sriramulu Telugu University[6]Kilari Venkata Rosaiah – YSRCP Party is the present MLA of the constituency, who won the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election from YSRCP Party. It is a municipality and the mandal headquarter of Ponnur mandal under Tenali revenue division.[7][8]

Ponnur
Town
Ponnur
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 16.0667°N 80.5667°E / 16.0667; 80.5667
CountryIndia
StateAndhra Pradesh
DistrictGuntur
Government
 • MLAKilari Venkata Rosaiah
Area
 • Total25.64 km2 (9.90 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2][3]
 • Total59,913
 • Density2,300/km2 (6,100/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialTelugu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
522 124
Telephone code+91–8643
Sex ratio1:0.96 ♂/♀
Websiteponnur.cdma.ap.gov.in/en

Demographics

As of 2011 Census of India, the town had a population of 59,913 with 16,138 households. The total population constitute, 29,486 males and 30,427 —a sex ratio of 1032 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 940 per 1000.[9] 5,507 children are in the age group of 0–6 years. The average literacy rate stands at 78.33% with 42,617 literates, higher than the national average of 73.00%.[2][10]

Government and politics

Civic Administration

Ponnur Municipality oversees the civic needs of the town like, water supply, roads, sewage, garbage collection etc. It is classified as a Grade–II municipality which was established in 1964 as a III–Grade municipality.[11] It has an extent of 25.64 km2 (9.90 sq mi) with 31 wards.[12] The town gets water from the Krishna river, which is supplied through taps, bores etc. The town has both government and private hospitals which include, clinics, nursing homes and a Government hospital for public healthcare. It also maintains parks and play grounds for recreational purpose[13]

Politics

Ponnur being a part of Ponnur mandal, falls under Ponnuru assembly constituency of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.[14] Venkata Rosaiah Kilari is the present MLA of the constituency from YSRCP.[15] The assembly segment is in turn a part of Guntur lok sabha constituency and the present Member of parliament is Galla Jayadev of Telugu Desam Party.[14][16]

Economy

Ponnur is an important town for the nearby villages. The rural areas surrounding the town are mostly dependent on agriculture. The farming is dominant with Paddy cultivation and others crops include ground nuts, cotton, betel etc.[8] There exists several other economic industries and occupations in the town such as, Brickworks, furniture making, handloom weaving, spinning khadi yarn, rice mills, timber etc. The town is also a part of Tenali–Ponnur growth corridor.[17]

Culture
Anjaneya Temple in Ponnur

Legend about Ponnuru | Once there lived two brahmans namely Kashibhatlu who was childless and his sister's son Nanduri Gunugovindu with deformed haunchback. They went on pilgrimage to Benares where Kashibhatlu moved with compassion, promised Govindu if ever daughter should be born to him, she would be given to him in marriage. Instantly Govindu called upon Bhava Narayana Swamy, a sacred river and certain trees growing on the banks as witnesses. Brahmans returned to Ponnuru. A daughter was born to Kashibhatlu. When She grew up, Govindu claimed the fulfillment of promise by Kashibhatlu. Kashibhatlu was reluctant to keep his word. Witnesses were called upon by Govindu. One night, when Kashibhatlu slept, Bhava Narayana Swamy appeared to remember promise. In morning when awoke, Kashibhatlu saw Ganges and trees at door, because of overflown river. Warned by witnesses Kashibhatlu gave his daughter to Govindu in marriage.[18] There are a few notable people from the town with their contributions to various fields such as, N. G. Ranga, Pragada Kotaiah. The town has an auditorium and a function hall for cultural events of the town[13]

There are many religious worship centers in the town like, temples, mosques and churches.[13] Most notable religious structures are, the temples of Sakshi Bhavanarayana and Sahastra Lingeswara, a single stone carved statues of 24 ft (7.3 m) Anjaneya and 29 ft (8.8 m) Garuthmantha.[8][19]

Transport
See also: Nidubrolu railway station

The town has a total road length of 140.05 km (87.02 mi).[20] State Highway 48, also known as Guntur-Bapatla-Chirala Road passes through Ponnur, which connects it with the district headquarter, Guntur. The Ponnur–Repalle Road connects National Highway 214A at Chandole.[21][22] The state government operates APSRTC bus services to the nearby towns and villages. Nearest railway station is Nidubrolu,[23] a D–category station in the Vijayawada railway division of South Central Railway zone.[24]

Education

Zilla parishad high school is the prominent one, run by panchayat raj department under govt of Andhra Pradesh.PBN is famous college for intermediate and degree courses. The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[25][26] The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu.

The town has both government and private educational institutions with a total of 34 primary, 3 upper primary and 12 high schools. There are also two government run junior colleges.[13]

References
  1. "Basic Information of Municipality". ponnurmunicipality.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  3. "Statistical Abstract of Andhra Pradesh, 2015" (PDF). Directorate of Economics & Statistics. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  4. Madras, Manual (1883). A MANUAL OF KISTNA DISTRICT IN THE PRESIDENCY OF MADRAS. Madras: Asylum Press. p. 204.
  5. A manual of Kistna District in the Presidency of Madras by Gordan Mackenzie | 1883 | Page : 209 |
  6. http://www.namami.gov.in | Catalogue of MaCKenzie Kaifiyats National Mission of Manuscripts | Kaifiyats complete book.pdf
  7. "District Census Handbook – Guntur" (PDF). Census of India. pp. 14, 46. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  8. "Basic Information of Municipality". Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  9. "Sex Ratio". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  10. "Chapter–3 (Literates and Literacy rate)" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  11. "Basic Information of Municipality". Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  12. "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  13. "Public services/amenities". Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  14. "Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008" (pdf). Election Commission of India. p. 22,31. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  15. "MLA". AP State Portal. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  16. "MP (Lok Sabha)". Government of AP. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  17. "Need to enforce building rules: VGTM-UDA vice-chief". The Hindu. Guntur. 14 July 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  18. A manual of Kistna District in the Presidency of Madras by Gordan Mackenzie | 1883 | Page : 204 |
  19. "Sri Veera Anjaneya Swamy". Guntur district website. National Informatics Centre. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  20. "Details of Roads in each ULB of Andhra Pradesh". Commissioner and Directorate of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department - Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  21. Samuel Jonathan, P (8 October 2015). "Nizampatnam backwaters beckon adventure geeks". The Hindu. Guntur. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  22. "Narrow roads prove to be a bane at Ponnur". The Hindu. Ponnur (Guntur district). 8 June 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  23. "NDO/Nidubrolu (3 PFs) Railway Station Map/Atlas – India Rail Info". India Rail Info.
  24. "Vijayawada division – A Profile" (PDF). South Central Railway. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  25. "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  26. "The Department of School Education - Official AP State Government Portal | AP State Portal". www.ap.gov.in. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
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