Khammam district

History

Paleolithic man probably roamed around the areas of lower Godavari valley and the surroundings of Wyra, Sathupalli Taluks in the district. Prehistoric rock paintings were found near Neeladri konda near Lankapalli of Sathupalli Taluk.

A megalithic site on the campus of Government Degree college in Khammam has yielded pottery and skeletal remains. Kistapuram of the district were rich in megalithic cultural remnants that were discovered and explored.

The southern parts of Khammam district flourished as famous Buddhist centers along with Amaravathi and Vijayapuri along the rivulets Munneru, Wyra and Murredu. Important Buddhist sites in the district are Nelakondapalli and Mudigonda

Post Independence

Khammam town which was the seat of Taluk Administration was a part of the larger Warangal district until 1 October 1953. Six taluks of the Warangal district viz., Khammam, Madhira, Yellandu, Paloncha, Kothagudem and Burgampadu were carved out as a new district with Khammam as headquarters. On 1 November 1956, Hyderabad state was dissolved, and Khammam district became part of Andhra Pradesh.

In 1959, Bhadrachalam revenue division consisting of Bhadrachalam and Nuguru Venkatapuram Taluks of East Godavari district, which were on the other side of the river Godavari were merged into Khammam on grounds of geographical contiguity and administrative viability. Aswaraopeta was also part of West Godavari District up to 1959. In 1973 a new taluk with Sathupalli as headquarters was carved out from Madhira and Kothagudem taluks. In the year 1976 three new taluks were formed viz., Tirumalayapalem, Aswaraopeta and Manuguru by bifurcating Khammam, Kothagudem and Burgampadu taluks respectively.

In the year 1985, following the introduction of the mandal system, the district has been divided into 46 mandals, under four Revenue Divisions – Khammam, Kothagudem, Paloncha and Bhadrachalam.

On 2 June 2014, Khammam together with nine other districts became the new state of Telangana, which was separated from Andhra Pradesh. On 11 July 2014, the Lok Sabha approved a bill transferring seven mandals of Khammam district (Kukunoor, Velairpadu, Bhurgampadu, Chintoor, Kunavaram, Vararamachandrapuram and Bhadrachalam) back to Andhra Pradesh, in order to facilitate the Polavaram Irrigation project.

Geography

Khammam district occupies an area of 4361 km2. It is surrounded by Suryapet district and Mahabubabad district to the west, Bhadradri Kothagudem district to the east, NTR district to the south and east, and Eluru district to the east.

Demographics

Census of India, the district has a population of 1,401,639. Mahabubabad has a sex ratio of 1005 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 65.95%. 139,614 (9.96%) were under 6 years of age. 316,828 (22.60%) lived in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 279,319 (19.93%) and 199,342 (14.22%) of the population respectively.

At the time of the 2011 census, 83.09% of the population spoke Telugu, 10.21% Lambadi and 5.54% Urdu as their first language.

Administrative divisions

Mandals

The mandals of Chinturu, Kunavaram, Nellipaka and Vararamachandrapuram were added to East Godavari district based on Polavaram ordinance.

The list of 21 mandals in Khammam district under 2 revenue divisions are:

1. Kalluru revenue division
2. Enkuru
3. Kalluru
4. Penuballi
5. Sathupalli
6. Thallada
7. Vemsoor
8. Khammam revenue division
9. Bonakal
10. Chintakani
11. Kamepalli
12. Khammam (rural)
13. Khammam (urban)
14. Konijerla
15. Kusumanchi
16. Madhira
17. Mudigonda
18. Nelakondapalli
19. Raghunadhapalem
20. Singareni
21. Tirumalayapalem
22. Wyra
23. Yerrupalem

Politics

Khammam district comprises 5 Assembly constituencies and 1 Lok Sabha constituency.

Economy

In 2006 the Indian government named Khammam one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).

Notable personalities

• The former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh(United), Jalagam Vengala Rao is from Khammam District. He served as 5th chief minister during 1973–78.
• Thummala Nageshwar Rao, minister for Roads and buildings, women and child welfare in Telangana State Government is from this region. He also occupied several ministerial portfolios in United Andhra Pradesh.
• Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy is an Indian Politician, represented Khammam Lok Sabha Constituency (2014–2019). In 2023, Mr Reddy elected from Palair Assembly Constituency. Currently serving as Cabinet Minister in Government of Telangana.
• Renuka Choudary, is an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress, She has also served as the Union minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Women and Child Development and Tourism in United Andhra Pradesh in the Government of India.
• Nama Nageswara Rao served as Member of Parliament for 16th Lok Sabha of India. He is a businessman and owner of Madhucon Projects.At present 2020 he is the minister of Khammam district (TRS Party).
• Babu Mohan, notable actor and comedian in the Telugu film industry. He also served as Social Welfare Minister in TDP Government.
• Vandemataram Srinivas is a South Indian music director, actor and singer.
• K.Dasaradh is a Telugu film Writer, Director. He is well known for his movies Santosham (2002 film) and Mr. Perfect (film).
• Srinivasa Reddy, notable actor and comedian in the Telugu film industry.

References

References

1. "Vehicle Registration Codes For New Districts In Telangana".
2. (1984). "Paleolithic History of Godavari valley".
3. (2003). "Comprehensive History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh: Pre- and protohistoric ...".
4. Sridhar, P. (2012-06-04). "Excavation throws light on burial practices of megalithic age". The Hindu.
5. Sridhar, P.. (2012-02-22). "Three megalithic sites discovered". The Hindu.
6. "The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2014" Accessed 13 July 2014 [http://164.100.24.219/BillsTexts/LSBillTexts/asintroduced/15_2014_LS_Eng.pdf]
7. "Protests against Centre, Andhra Pradesh in Khammam over Polavaram Bill". Deccan Chronicle, 12 July 2014. Accessed 13 July 2014. [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140712/nation-current-affairs/article/polavaram-row-protests-against-centre-andhra-pradesh-khammam]
8. (8 October 2016). "New districts". Andhra Jyothy.com.
9. (2011). "Population by Religion - Andhra Pradesh". [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]].
10. "Know your district Plan your district - Khammam". Telangana State Remote Sensing Applications Centre.
11. "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Andhra Pradesh". [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]].
12. "Administrative Map of Khammam District".
13. (29 May 2014). "Ordinance on Polavaram project promulgated". The Hans India.
14. Ministry of Panchayati Raj. (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme". National Institute of Rural Development.