Overview
Peddapalli district is an administrative district in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Telangana. It was carved out as part of the reorganisation of districts in Telangana that came into effect on 11 October 2016, when the state government increased the number of districts to provide more decentralised administration. The town of Peddapalli serves as the district headquarters.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Telangana |
| Headquarters | Peddapalli |
| Formed | 11 October 2016 |
| Parent district | Karimnagar (undivided) |
| Region | Northern Telangana |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Peddapalli (reserved) |
Background
Before the 2016 reorganisation, the area now constituting Peddapalli district was part of the larger Karimnagar district. The Government of Telangana, led by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, restructured the state into a larger number of smaller districts to bring administration closer to citizens. As part of this exercise, the revenue divisions and mandals around Peddapalli, Manthani, and Sultanabad were grouped into the new district.
Geography
Peddapalli district lies in the Godavari river basin in northern Telangana. It shares boundaries with Jayashankar Bhupalpally district to the east, Mancherial district to the north, Karimnagar district to the west, and Jagtial district to the north-west. The terrain is largely undulating with patches of forest, and the Godavari and its tributaries flow along its northern edge. The district receives much of its rainfall from the south-west monsoon.
Administration
The district is divided into revenue divisions, which are further subdivided into mandals. The principal revenue divisions include Peddapalli and Manthani. Local self-government is exercised through gram panchayats in rural areas and through municipalities in urban centres such as Peddapalli, Sultanabad, and Manthani. The district collector, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, heads the district administration.
Economy
The economy of Peddapalli is shaped by a combination of agriculture, coal mining, and thermal power generation. The district hosts significant operations of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), with major coal-mining areas around Godavarikhani in the Ramagundam region. Ramagundam is also home to one of the large thermal power stations of the NTPC Limited, making the district a key contributor to power generation in southern India. Paddy, cotton, maize, and turmeric are among the principal crops cultivated in the district, supported by canal irrigation from the Sriram Sagar Project and lift irrigation schemes drawing from the Godavari.
Transport
Peddapalli is well connected by rail and road. The town lies on the Kazipet–Balharshah railway line of the South Central Railway, and Peddapalli Junction serves as the starting point of the line towards Karimnagar and Nizamabad. National and state highways connect the district to Hyderabad, Karimnagar, and Mancherial.
Demographics and culture
Telugu is the principal language spoken in the district, with Urdu spoken by a section of the population. The cultural life of the area is influenced by traditions of the Telangana region, including Bathukamma and Bonalu festivals. The temple town of Dharmapuri, located on the banks of the Godavari, is a notable pilgrimage site associated with Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.
Politics
The district falls under the Peddapalli Lok Sabha constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes. Several assembly constituencies, including Peddapalli, Manthani, and Ramagundam, lie within or partly within the district.
Related topics
- Districts of Telangana
- Ramagundam
- Singareni Collieries Company
- Godavari River
- Karimnagar district
- Telangana
References
- Government of Telangana, notifications on the formation of new districts, 2016.
- Wikidata entry: Q27614797.