Annamayya District - 1 | APPSC State Specific Preparation Course - APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) PDF Download

About District

Boundaries and topography of the district

• Annamayya District is situated in the extreme southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh, bordered by YSR Kadapa District to the North, Chittoor District to the South, Anantapur District to the West, and Nellore and Chittoor Districts to the East.
• The geographical coordinates of the district range from 13°19'55" to 14°42'32" northern latitude and 78°18'55" to 79°20'26" eastern longitude. The altitude varies between 269 to 3787 meters above sea level.

Demographic Particulars

• The district covers a total geographical area of 7,951 square kilometers and comprises 3 Revenue Divisions, 30 mandals, 462 Gram Panchayats, 463 Revenue Villages, and 5,673 Habitations.
• According to the 2011 Census, the district's population is 1,697,308, with 1,305,797 residing in rural areas and 391,511 in urban areas. The population density is 213 individuals per square kilometer.
• The Scheduled Castes population in the district is 229,601, and the Scheduled Tribes population is 62,475.

Land Utilization

• The total geographical area of Annamayya District is 795,126 hectares. It includes 162,692 hectares of forest land, 124,111 hectares of barren and uncultivable land, and 84,311 hectares of land used for non-agricultural purposes.
• Other categories of land include cultivable waste (27,056 hectares), permanent pastures and grazing lands (16,151 hectares), miscellaneous tree crops and groves (12,834 hectares), current fallows (106,382 hectares), and other fallow land (107,748 hectares).
• The total cropped area is 171,617 hectares, with a net area sown of 154,649 hectares. Additionally, an area of 16,968 hectares was sown more than once during the year 2019-20.

Natural Resources

• Palakonda Hills: The Palakonda hills, also known as Seshachalam hills, are composed of massive quartzite interbedded with slates and lavas. They extend from the southern part of the district along the western border of Rajampet taluk. Near Vempalle, you can find the picturesque gorge known as the "Vempalle Gundy" from the Ramayana, where the River Papagni flows through the range.
• Nallamalais and Lankamalais: The northern fork of the hill range forms the Nallamalais and Lankamalais, which stretch northward, dividing Kadapa and Sidhout taluks before reaching Proddattur taluk and entering Kurnool district. These hill ranges are characterized by thick forests and diverse wildlife, with heights averaging between 2,500 to 3,000 feet.
• Rivers: Cheyyeru River: The Cheyyeru river converges with the Penneru river at Gundlamada in Vontimitta mandal. It is fed by three tributaries and passes through the Balarajupalle gorge before exiting Rajampet mandal near Ellampeta. The rivulet that flows through Rajampet taluk meets it at Narasingarajupuram.
• Fauna: Wildlife: The district's wildlife has been significantly impacted by excessive exploitation. Species like the Bonnet monkey, Madras Langur, Tiger, Panther, Leopard, Mongoose, Jackal, and various others can be found in different regions. Avian species such as the Grey Partridge, Jungle Bush-Quail, and Dove are common in open forests and countryside areas.
• Soil: The district's soil consists of two main types - Red Ferruginous and Black Soils. Black Clay, covering 23.7% of the district, is considered the most superior soil.
• Minerals: The district is abundant in minerals, including major ones like Barytes, Lime Stone, and Asbestos. Additionally, minor minerals like Napa Slabs, Road Metal, Building Stone, Marble, Mosaic Chips, and Rehmatti are also found in the district.
• Climate: The year is divided into four seasons. December to February is the dry and relatively cool season, followed by summer from March to May. May is the hottest month. The South-West monsoon occurs from June to September, with October to December being the post-monsoon period.
• Rainfall: The district receives an average annual rainfall of 738.5 mm. Rainfall increases from the North-West to the South-East. The rainy season is from June to November, with October experiencing the highest rainfall. The South-west monsoon period is crucial for sowing dry crops like Groundnut and Redgram, covering 75% of the total cropped area.

Development Activities

• Agriculture: The majority of the district's population relies on agriculture. Major crops include Paddy, Groundnut, Sunflower, Cotton, Betel Leaves, and horticultural crops like Mango, Papaya, Banana, Lemon, and Sweet Orange. The gross cropped area is 3,18,582 hectares, with 1,51,539 hectares being irrigated during 2019-20.
• Irrigation: The primary irrigation source in the district is the Pincha project. This project, along with other sources like the Annamayya Project, plays a crucial role in providing water to crops in the region.
• Education: The district is supported by a network of educational institutions, including 2072 primary schools, 407 upper primary schools, 581 high schools, 119 junior colleges, 61 degree colleges, and Yogi Vemana University offering postgraduate courses. In terms of technical education, there are 6 polytechnics, 8 engineering colleges, one Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, one dental college, one homeopathic medical college, one veterinary college, and one IIIT center at Rajiv Knowledge Valley.
• Industries: The district hosts 8 large and medium-scale industries with a total investment of Rs. 3310.01 crores, providing employment opportunities for 161 individuals. Additionally, there are 75 small-scale units operating in the district, employing 1,06,646 people with an investment of Rs. 6,666.25 crores.
• Transport and Communications: The district's transportation infrastructure includes a 195.13 km broad-gauge railway line with 24 railway stations covering 13 mandals. Moreover, there are 327.59 km of state highway and 330.46 km of national highway. All 32 Mandal Headquarters are connected by paved roads with bus services, and the A.P. State Highway Project links Kadapa to Renigunta and Tirupati.
• Power: The establishment of the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station, with a capacity of 1650 MW, significantly contributes to power generation in the state, producing 7692.61 million kWh of electricity.