Ichapore

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?Ichapore West Bengal • India
Ichapore
Coordinates: 22°47′N 88°29′E / 22.78, 88.48
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	North 24 Parganas
Municipality Chairman
Codes • Telephone	• +91 33

Coordinates: 22°47′N 88°29′E / 22.78, 88.48 Ichapore (also written as Ichapur) (In Bengali: ইছাপুর) is an Indian city near Barrackpore, by the River Ganges. This is a small city, most famous for two ordnance factories, viz., Ishapore Rifle Factory and Metal & Steel factory. The city has a population of around 100,000 and is densely populated.

1 Overview
2 Banks and Financial Houses
3 Healthcare
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Overview

This city is also referred to as "Ishapore" with anglicized spelling. The majority of the population in Ichapore are Bengalis and they speak Bengali as their native language. The city is connected to Kolkata and nearby cities by railroad as well as paved highway. The distance between Ichapur and Sealdah Railway Stations is approximately 27 km. The various neighbourhoods in Ichapore are known as Anandamath, Nawabganj, Northland, Eastland, Kanthadhar and Badamtala.

Nawabganj, by the river, is one of the oldest part of the city. As the name implies, the Nawabs (or Kings) had their residence in this area. There are still relics from the old days in this part of the city. In the adjoining Park area, now under Ordnance Factory control, Cannons from the 18th. Century could still be found. A stroll by the river in Nawabganj is very pleasant and is a popular destination for young couples. One of the most popular fair in this area is Jhulan Mela that takes place in Nawabganj during the month of August-September. This tradition is more than hundred years old and draws thousands of people and businesses to this fair. Rows of businesses set up their stalls along the main road of Nawabganj. The fair ends on the day of Janmashthami. Nawabganj is also the place where traditional Durga idols are immersed in the river Ganges on Dashami ending Durga Puja celebration.

There are numerous schools which caters to the need of the residents - Rifle Factory High School, Anandamath Vidyapith, Northland High School and Sridhar Banshidhar High School, two exclusively Girl's schools and two Kendriya Vidyalayas (under CBSE board). There are trade schools run by the ordnance factories. Some neighbourhoods like Anandamath and Nawabganj run their own public libraries.

Most part of the city is urbane in nature with planned housing built for the factory employees with modern water and sewage system. Crime rate is fairly low and the city is conservative in nature. There are quite a few dining places suitable for family as well as young adult population. Abhiruchi is one of the most popular food joint in Ichapur. It has around 170 items on its menu. The mouth watering dishes are real bargain for the price. It is located just opposite Allahbad Bank in Kanthadar. Another popular place is Sonar Tori Situated near Chowmatha. This is a Restruant-cum-Bar, though most customers are here for drink. Hotels are few in numbers though guest houses are available for business visitors. As for place of worships, there are few Hindu Temples, one Mosque (Muslim) and one Gurudawara (Shikh). The nearest Christian Church is in Barrackpur.

The two Ordnance factories, the lifeline of the city, have been a model of "corporate responsibility" for over a hundred years. They provide excellent amenities for their workers including quality housing and extensive recreational facilities. The Metal & Steel factory is a unique facility that supplies metallic parts to other Ordnance factories throughout the nation. The Rifle Factory makes rifles and guns for the Defense sector and for recreational purposes. Weapons tested and later produced here for the Indian Army included the Vickers-Berthier light machine gun, turned down by the British Army in favour of the Bren gun on cost grounds. The largest production was of the Indian version (in various guises and marks) of the Lee Enfield rifle. The recent model from the stable of Ishapore Rifle Factory is famous INSAS which is the mainstay in Indian Army as well as other security forces of India.

[edit] Banks and Financial Houses

There are few Banks and financial houses that serve the people living in Ishapore and nearby areas. While State Bank of India is the busiest of all, other banks like Allahabad Bank, Punjab National Bank,Canara Bank also have their presence here. SBI Branch opposite Northland Bazar, PNB near Badamtala and Axis Bank in Kanthadhar have ATM facilities. Allahabad Bank at Kanthadhar and Canara Bank near Badamtala are also easily accessible. The Private institutions do business mainly in the investment area.

[edit] Healthcare

The Two Ordnance Factories jointly operate a hospital (both in-patient and out-patient care) as well as few dispensaries. Basic care and surgical services are available here. The Hospital is well staffed and well maintained. Patients requiring advanced treatments are referred to hospitals in Barrackpore or Kolkata. There are also numerous Doctors in private practice and medicine stores spread throughout the city.

North 24 Parganas district has been identified as one of the areas where ground water is affected by arsenic contamination. ^[1]

[edit] References

^ Groundwater Arsenic contamination in West Bengal-India (19 years study ). Groundwater arsenic contamination status of North 24-Parganas district, one of the nine arsenic affected districts of West Bengal-India. SOES. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.