Washim district is an administrative district in the Vidarbha region of the state of Maharashtra in India. The town of Washim serves as the district headquarters. The district was carved out of the erstwhile Akola district on 1 July 1998, when the Government of Maharashtra reorganised several large districts to improve administrative reach.
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| State | Maharashtra |
| Region | Vidarbha |
| Division | Amravati Division |
| Headquarters | Washim |
| Formed | 1 July 1998 |
| Parent district | Akola |
Geography
Washim district lies in the south-western part of the Vidarbha region. It is bordered by Akola district to the north, Amravati district to the north-east, Yavatmal district to the east and south-east, Hingoli district to the south, and Buldhana district to the west. The terrain is largely part of the Deccan plateau, with the Penganga river system draining parts of the southern portion of the district. Agriculture is the dominant land use, with soybean, cotton, tur (pigeon pea) and jowar among the principal crops.
Administration
The district is part of the Amravati administrative division. It is subdivided into tehsils which include Washim, Risod, Malegaon, Mangrulpir, Manora and Karanja. Local self-government is exercised through the Washim Zilla Parishad at the district level, panchayat samitis at the block level, and gram panchayats at the village level. Urban areas are administered by municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
History
The town of Washim has long historical significance and is identified by some scholars with the ancient Vatsagulma, which served as a capital of the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakataka dynasty during the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Under later medieval and early modern rule, the area passed through the Bahmani, Nizam Shahi and Mughal dominions, and subsequently formed part of the Berar territories administered under the Nizam of Hyderabad before British paramountcy. After the reorganisation of states in 1956, the region became part of Bombay State, and from 1960 of the newly formed state of Maharashtra. The present-day district was constituted on 1 July 1998 by separating the southern tehsils of Akola district.
Demographics and culture
Marathi is the principal language of the district. The population is predominantly rural, with agriculture and allied activities providing the main source of livelihood. Washim town is associated with the Balaji temple and the Padmatirtha tank, and the district hosts a number of fairs and pilgrimage sites that draw visitors from neighbouring areas of Vidarbha and Marathwada.
Economy
The economy of Washim district is primarily agrarian. Soybean cultivation is widespread and the district is part of the larger Vidarbha cotton belt. Agricultural produce markets (APMCs) at Washim, Karanja and Risod are important trading centres for grains, oilseeds and pulses. Small-scale agro-processing units, oil mills, and ginning and pressing factories form the bulk of the industrial activity.
Transport
The district is served by the national highway network connecting it to Akola, Hingoli and Nanded, and by state highways linking the tehsil headquarters. Rail connectivity is provided by lines of the South Central Railway and Central Railway zones, with Washim and Karanja among the stations on the network. The nearest major airports are at Akola and Nagpur.
Related topics
References
- Wikidata: Washim district (Q1804858)
- Government of Maharashtra, Revenue and Forest Department notifications on district reorganisation (1998)