Date:13/02/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/02/13/stories/2009021350010100.htm

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Tirupur district to be spread over 4,900 sq. km.; inauguration soon

R. Vimal Kumar

Tirupur: The topography and nomenclature of the recently-notified Tirupur district has become clearer as the official inauguration of the district, which is being carved out of Coimbatore and Erode districts, gets very close (i.e. set to take place shortly).

Demography

Revenue sources told The Hindu that the district, to be spread over an expanse of about 4,900 sq. km, would have a population of 19,17,033 (based on 2001 census) distributed across one corporation, six municipalities, 17 town panchayats, 13 panchayat unions and 273 village panchayats. “Of these, about 56 per cent people will be in rural areas,” the sources added.

Area-wise, Dharapuram (1,372.84 sq. km) will be the biggest taluk and Tirupur (373.33 sq. km) the smallest among the six taluks (others being Avinashi, Palladam, Kangayam and Udumalpet) that will constitute the district.

According to sources, the new district will have a road network of 3,085 km maintained by the state highways department. It includes state highways, district roads, other district roads (ODR) and sugarcane roads.

Besides, three national highways, serviced by National Highways Authority of India, pass through the district limits.

Health facilities

A District Headquarters Hospital and 43 primary health centres will come under the limits of the proposed district following the reorganisation from the Coimbatore and Erode districts.

Similarly, the district will have 1,269 noon meal centres and 1,405 anganwadis to support the nutritional needs of children and pregnant women.