Madhya Pradesh
 |
Area |
3,08,000 sq km |
 |
State
Government Portal |
 |
Population |
60,385,118 |
|
Open Forum Partners
|
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Capital |
Bhopal |
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Important Contact Numbers |
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Principal
Languages |
Hindi |
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Development Initiatives |
History
and Geography
Madhya Pradesh is the second largest Sate in
India, and geographically occupies pivotal position
in the country. King Ashoka first of all ruled
over Ujjain. A sizeable portion of Central India
was part of the Gupta Empire (300-500 A.D.).
The Muslims came into Central India in the beginning
of 11th century, Mahmud of Ghazni being the
first of them, followed by Mohammad Gouri, who
incorporated some parts of Central India into
his ruling territory of Delhi. Central India
was also part of the Mughal Empire. During the
period between the beginning of the influence
of Marathas and the death of Madhoji Scindia
in 1794, the Marathas were in power in Central
India, but later on, other small states started
coming into existence. These small states became
the cause of perpetuation of British power in
the country. Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore,
the Gond Maharani Kamalapti and Queen Durgawati,
etc., were some women rulers, whose names have
left an indelible imprint on Indian history
for their outstanding rule. Madhya Pradesh came
into being on 1 November, 1956. It was reorganised
on 1 November 2000 to create a new Chhattisgarh
state. The successive state is bound in north
by Uttar Pradesh, east by Chhattisgarh, south
by Maharashtra, and west by Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The District Planning Committees for the district
level governance have been empowered to plan
and execute development works. A system of village
level governance, Gram Swaraj is operative.
The Gram Sabhas have been equipped with extensive
executive and financial powers regarding development
matters.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the mainstay of State’s
economy as 74.73 per cent of the people are
rural. As much as 49 per cent of the land area
is cultivable.
The net sown area during 2004-2005 was estimated
at about 12.47 m. ha. The food grain production
was 14.10m. metric tonne. The productivity of
major crops like wheat, rice, pulses has also
been good. The National Horticulture Mission
has been implemented in 20 districts. A separate
Horticulture and Food Processing Department
has been set up.
Industry and Minerals
Madhya Pradesh has entered the era of high-tech
industries such as electronics, telecommunications,
automobiles, Information Technology, etc. The
state is producing optical fibre for telecommunication
needs. A large number of automobile industries
have been established at Pithampur near Indore.
Prominent industries in the public sector in
the state are Bharat Heavy Electrical's Ltd.
at Bhopal, Security Paper Mill at Hoshangabad,
Bank Note Press at Dewas, Newsprint Factory
at Nepanagar and Alkaloid Factory at Neemuch.
The cement production touched 12.49 million
metric tonne during the period. An Air Cargo
Complex is coming up at Pithampur. The Government
of India has set up a Special Economic Zone
at Indore. Foreign Direct Investment is being
promoted by implementing the comprehensive Economic
Development Policy. The state government has
announced an Industries Promotion Policy offering
attractive incentives for investment in the
state. Letters of intent for establishment of
industries with an investment of Rs. 5200 crore
have since been received. The docks have been
cleared for the long pending Rs. 10,300 crore
Oman Bina Refinary Project at Bina in Sagar
district. The Government of India has also sanctioned
a National Auto Testing and Research and Development
Infrastructure Project to be set up at Pithampur
in Dhar district.
The State Government has implemented a new
I. T. Policy to attract private investment in
I. T. sector.
Madhya Pradesh is a mineral rich state. The
state produced minerals worth Rs. 5050.05 in
2004-05. It produces 21 types of minerals. The
output of minerals in 2004-05 was -dolomite
-128 thousand metric tonne, diamond - 78315
thousand carats, limestone-24938 thousand metric
tonne, bauxite-196 thousand million metric tonne
and copper ore - 2054 thousand million metric
tonne. The coal production was 52683 thousand
metric tonne. The State is famous for its traditional
handicrafts and handloom cloths manufactured
in Chanderi and Maheshwar.
Irrigation and Power
The net area under irrigation was 6.19 million-hectare
in the year 2004-2005. There is a target to
increase the irrigation facilities from 39 per
cent to 50 per cent. A Rs.1919 crore Water Sector
Restructuring Project has been taken up to restore
irrigation facility in five lakh hectares by
renovating the existing irrigation system in
30 districts.
Madhya Pradesh is rich in low-grade coal suitable
for power generation and also has immense potential
of hydro-energy. Total installed power generation
capacity in year 2004-2005 was 7405 M. W. There
are eight hydroelectric power stations with
747.5 MW installed capacity. A total of 50,475
out of 51806 villages had been electrified.
Power generation is 2050 M. W.
The Government of M.P. has formed a joint venture
(Narmada Hydro Electric Development Corporation)
with National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation,
a Government of India undertaking for execution
of 1000 M. W. Indira Sagar Hydro-electric Project
and 520 M. W. Omkareshwar Hydro-Electric Power
Project. The Indira Sagar Project has been completed
ahead of schedule. The state government has
enacted Madhya Pradesh Power Reform Act for
qualitative improvement in energy sector. Five
companies have been constituted for generation,
distribution and transmission.\
Development Initiatives
Madhya Pradesh Rural Employment Scheme has been
implemented in 18 districts. M.P. has topped
in the country in its implementation. National
Horticulture Mission has been launched to boost
horticulture production and productivity in
the state.
Transport
Roads: The total length of roads in the state
is 72416 km. The length of national highway
in the state is 4676 km while State highway
extends to 8099 km. The state government has
taken up the construction and upgradation of
roads in a big way and about 60 thousand kilometres
roads will be constructed and upgraded. The
year 2005 is being observed as the Year of Roads
during which every month construction of an
important road would be completed.
Railways: The main rail route linking Northern
India with Southern India passes through Madhya
Pradesh. Main junctions in the state are Bhopal,
Bina, Gwalior, Indore, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni,
Ratlam and Ujjain. The divisional railways headquarters
are at Bhopal, Ratlam and Jabalpur.
Festivals
A number of festivals are celebrated in Madhya
Pradesh. An important tribal festival is Bhagoriya
marked by traditional gaiety and enthusiasm.
Shivratri is celebrated in Khajuraho, Bhojpur,
Pachmarhi and Ujjain and has its own local flavour
while Ramnavami festival at Chitrakoot and Orchha
has a unique sense of devotion imbued with tradition.
Festivals of Orchha, Malwa, Pachmarhi bring
to the fore, repertoire of culture and art of
the people. Tansen Music Festival, Gwalior,
Ustad Allauddin Khan Music Festival of Maihar,
Kalidas Samaroh, Ujjain and Festival of Dances
at Khajuraho are some of the well known art
festivals of Madhya Pradesh. An annual Narmada
Festival has been started from this year at
Bedight in Jabalpur, famous for its marble rocks.
A Shivpuri Festival has been started from this
year at Shivpuri.
Tourist Centres
Perfectly preserved medieval cities, refreshing
and enchanting wildlife sanctuaries and some
of the holiest and most revered pilgrim centres
offer to the tourist the most fulfilling experience.
Tranquil beauty of Pachmarhi, glittering splendour
of Marble Rocks and roaring sound of Dhuandhar
Fall at Bhedaghat, Kanha National Park, with
its unique Barasingha and Bandhavgarh National
Park with its prehistoric caves and wildlife
are some of the major attractions of the state.
Gwalior, Mandu, Datia, Chanderi, Jabalpur, Orchha,
Raisen, Sanchi, Vidisha, Udaygiri, Bhimbetika,
Indore and Bhopal are the places well-known
for their historical monuments. Maheshwar, Omkareshwar,
Ujjain, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak are major
centres of pilgrimage. Unique temples of Khajuraho
are famous all over the world. The temples of
Orchha, Bhojpur and Udaypur attract large number
of tourists as well as pilgrims.
Archaeological treasures are preserved in
the museums at Satna, Sanchi, Vidisha, Gwalior,
Indore, Mandsaur, Ujjain, Rajgarh, Bhopal, Jabalpur,
Rewa and may other places. Omkareshwar, Maheshwar
and Amarkantak have been declared as holy cities
for their integrated development in accordance
with their religious significance. Burhanpur
is being developed as a new tourist destination.
Tourism Centres
Perfectly preserved medieval cities, refreshing
and enchanting wildlife sanctuaries, and some
of the holiest and most revered pilgrim centres
offer to the tourist the most fulfilling experience.
Tranquil beauty of Pachmarhi, glittering splendour
of marble rocks, and roaring sound of Dhuandhar
Fall at Bhedaghat, Kanha National Park, with
its unique Barasingha and Bandhavgarh National
Park with its prehistoric caves and wildlife
are some of the major attractions of the state.
Gwalior, Mandu, Datia, Chanderi, Jabalpur, Orchha,
Raisen, Sanchi, Vidisha, Udaygiri, Bhimbetka,
Indore and Bhopal are the places well-known
for their historical monuments. Maheshwar, Omkareshwar,
Ujjain, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak are major
centres of pilgrimages. Unique temples of Khajuraho
are famous all over the world. The temples of
Orchha, Bhojpur and Udaypur attract large number
of tourists as well as pilgrims. Archaeological
treasures are preserved in the museums at Satna,
Sanchi, Vidisha, Gwalior, Indore, Mandsaur,
Ujjain, Rajgarh, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Rewa and
many other places.
