Muvattupuzha
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| ?Muvattupuzha Kerala • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
13.7 km² (5 sq mi) • 15 m (49 ft) |
| District(s) | Ernakulam |
| Population • Density • Sex ratio |
29,246 (2001) • 2,151 /km² (5,571 /sq mi) • 1023 |
| Municipal Chairman | Mrs. Mary George Thottam |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • UN/LOCODE • Vehicle |
• 686661 • +0485 • INKOC • KL-17 |
| Website: www.ekm.kerala.gov.in | |
| The town where three rivers merge to form Muvattupuzha river. | |
Coordinates: Muvattupuzha (Malayalam:മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ ) is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a medium sized town situated 42 km north-east of Ernakulam City, Kerala state, India. It is located at 9.9670N, 76.5830E. It is an important town in central Kerala. It lies between Thrissur and Kottayam on the Main Central Road (MC road) which runs along the length of the old Travancore, from Trivandrum to Angamaly. The importance of Muvattupuzha is that, the first and second Longest Sate Highways of Kerala viz Main Central Road (Angamali - Trivandrum / SH-01 / 240 km) and Main Eastern Highway (Muvattupuzha -Punalur / SH-08 / 154 km) meet here. Also Kundannor-Madurai NH49 is passing through here. A new civil station is set up at Vazhapilly.
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[edit] Muvattupuzha River
The town is named after the Muvattupuzha (Muvattupuzha Aar) river which flows through it. The name is made up of three Malayalam words: 'Moo', which stands for 'three', 'aaru' - small river, and 'puzha', which also means a river. 'Aaru' is a word that is usually used to rivers in the southern half of Kerala, while 'puzha's are northern rivers. The three rivers in this case are the Kothamangalam river or Kothayaar, Kaliyar and Thodupuzhayaar, which merge to form a single river. Thus it is called Thriveni Sangamam or Centre Point in Malayalam.
Muvattupuzha Aar (Malayalam:മൂവാറ്റുപുഴയാറ്, Muvattupuzha River) which starts and flows through Muvattupuzha town runs for 121 km. The major source of water is the Thodupuzha River which starts in the Idukki district and provides a good supply of water all the year, enabled by the supply of water from Idukki Arch Dam. Idukki Dam is the largest Arch Dam in India and it is used for hydro-electric power generation. Muvattupuzhayar is the prime victim of river pollution now a days. Municipalities Hospitalas, hotels commercial shps .. all are dumping tonnes of wastes in the rive without any resist. Green people, people for socio environmental works an environmental organisation is now leading a campaign to save the muvattupuzhayar
[edit] History
It was part of erstwhile Vadakkumkoor Kingdom until it was captured by Travancore kingdom, now merged into state of Kerala. Old documents prove that the lands of Muvattupuzha belonged to ‘Edappally Swaroopam’. Later the rights were transformed to various ‘Manas’ (Brahmin Families).Source. The ‘Perandoor’ Temple at Edappally is still considered as the root temple of many Nair families of Kadathy, Vellorkunnam, Paipra and Vazhappilli.
After Indian Independence, Muvattupuzha, as a village union, came under the control of a council of three members nominated by the government. V. P. Govindan Nair was the first president of the village union. A. P. Makkar and Penthitta Gopalan Pillai were the other two members of the council. This council was short-lived. By 1953, Muvattupuzha was declared a Panchayat. Kunnappillil Varkey Vaidyan was the first president of the elected Panchayat Committee. Muvattupuzha was raised to the status of a Municipality in the year 1958. N. Parameshwaran Nair became the first Municipal Chairman. Muvattupuzha made history as the first Municipality where the Communist Party came to power in a general election.
N.P.Varghese had the credit of being elected as the first MLA from Muvattupuzha Assembly Constituency. Later, K. M. George represented Muvattupuzha. The first MP of Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha Constituency was George Thomas Kottukapally. Of all the Municipal Chairmen of the town, P. P. Esthose deserves special mention. He was simultaneously an MLA and the Municipal Chairman of Muvattupuzha. He got state-level recognition as the Chairman of Chamber of Chairmen. In its entire history, he is the only Communist member elected to the Parliament from the constituency.
[edit] Demographics
Muvattupuzha is distinguished by the presence of three major religions. They are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, majority being Hindus. Islam is also a main religion in Muvattupuzha Taluka. Syrian Christians are present in all areas.
As of 2001 India census[1], Muvattupuzha had a population of 29,230. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Muvattupuzha has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 82%. In Muvattupuzha, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Many important roads pass through Muvattupuzha. They are Kochi - Madurai NH 49, The Main Eastern Highway ( Muvattupuzha - Pathanamthitta - Punalur Road / SH - 08 ), Thekkady-Palarivattom highway, Trivandrum-Angamaly Main Central Road, etc.
Muvattupuzha-Theni Highway[SH43]-A new short route to reach Madurai is started from Chali Bridge touching Randattinkara, Kotta Road, Kalloorkadu, Udumbannur, Nedumkandom to reach Theni. If this road is established, will be a distance savior for reaching Madurai of Tamil Nadu.
The town has wider roads compared to neighboring towns from old times. Although the traffic is lesser than towns like Perumbavoor, sometimes traffic-jam occurs as MC road passes through the center of the town. A Bypass is planned from Kadathy to Puthuppady in NH49 to avoid traffic from Kochi-Madurai NH49 Highway which is also the route to Munnar, a Hill Station.
As the Chali Bridge is nearing completion across Muvattupuzha river, a bypass will be made to get around the town. This helps long distance travelers from caught in town traffic which occurs especially in noon and evening. The bypass will pass through Kizhakkekara to Marady in South for MC road linking SH8 (state highway) to Thodupuzha.
[edit] Suburbs
The town consists of two parts separated by Muvattupuzha bridge. Velloorkunnam, Vazhappilly and Kadathy areas of the town lie to the south west of the bridge. Kavumkara is the Market which lies North-East of the town after the bridge on the Muvattupuzha-Kothamangalam road.
There is another bridge on the eastern part of the town called Thodupuzha bridge, made over the Thodupuzha river. Kizhakkekara and Randarkara lies on the eastern part of the town on the banks of Muvattupuzha river. After Thodupuzha bridge (Latha palam) comes Adooparambu, Anikkad and Avoly. This area grows maximum pineaples and has pineaple based agro industries. Adooparambu is alos known for its timber industries which accommodates about half a dozen saw mills. Avoly is a grama panchayath abutting Muvattupuzha Municipality. Anikkadu Thiruvamplavil Mahadeva Temple and Anikkattillam are also renowned as like the big pond 'Anikkattu Chira'.
The old Muvattupuzha bridge built over Muvattupuzha river is the very first concrete bridge in India. It was completed in 1914. Now along with new bridge this serves as the important connection between Nehru Park and Kacherithazham, two main town centres.
The Puzhakkara Kavu, one of the most important temple dedicated to Bhagawati Goddess lies on the banks of Muvattupuzha. The area near the Kavu is called Kavumpady. The Tamil Brahmin's called Iyers are concentrated on this area of Muvattupuzha town.
Pezhakkappilly and Vazhakulam are two satellite towns of Muvattupuzha. Nearby Panchayats are mostly into agriculture and small scale and medium scale Industries. Pineapple and Rubber plantations are the common agrarian efforts. Match box industries, saw mills, paper, plastic and wood carton box making are the main industries in this area.
[edit] Education
Muvattupuzha has been a seat of learning for long time and it has very good educational facilities. Nirmala College is one of early institute for higher education here. The Nirmala chain of institutions like Nirmala Junior School, Nirmala High School, Nirmala Sadan, Nirmala School of Nursing etc. under Catholic Diocise of Kothamangalam serves in almost all fields of imparting of education. Ilahia Trust, a prominent educational trust runs the first ever engineering and technology college of Muvattupuzha ( Ilahia College of Engineering and Technology) besides its renowned Ilahia Public School, Ilahia Arts and Science College and Kavaumkara LP School.
The Government institutes like that of Teachers Training College, BEd College and other Schools also are run in a very commendable manner. There are exclusive girls/women schools and colleges like St Augustines School. NSS,SNDP, HM Trust and Tharbiyathu Trust are among the many other organisations running educational institution here.
Vishwa Jyothi Engineering College, Al Noor Dental College and Ilahia Medical College ( being pursued) are other notable professional institutions here.
[edit] Nearby towns
Nearby towns are Kothamangalam, Thodupuzha, Kolenchery, Koothattukulam, Perumbavoor and Piravom. The majority of the population makes a living through agriculture and small scale industries. Muvattupuzha was considered as one of the most important commercial centre and prominent town till about 1980. It was the gateway to Idukki , Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts and only market for the people from high ranges. Today also it serves as a significant link towards Sabarimala, Munnar and Thekkady. The recent development in the infrastructure here has attracted investments and this may mark Muvattupuzha regaining its importance in the near future.
[edit] Future
Ernakulam and Muvattupuzha are culturally and geographically different as Muvattupuzha Taluka essentially is mid-land with Agriculture as main effort, while parts of Ernakulam is Coastal terrain with abundance of fishing community. People here are hoping for Muvattupuzha District or Zilla (pronounced Jilla), which would fulfill the developmental needs of the eastern parts of Ernakulam District and parts of Thodupuzha Taluk. But leaders from Muvattupuzha, being reluctant and non-influential, are unable to fulfill the dreams of Muvattupuzhakkaar - Muvattupuzha Zilla.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
[edit] External links
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