Godda

Godda is a town with a municipal Council in the Godda subdivision of the Godda district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the headquarters of the Godda district.

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Godda district. For its namesake community development block, see Godda (community development block).

Godda
Town
Godda is located in Jharkhand
Godda
Godda
Location in Jharkhand, India
Godda is located in India
Godda
Godda
Godda (India)
Coordinates: 24.83°N 87.22°E / 24.83; 87.22
Country India
StateJharkhand
DistrictGodda
Government
 • TypeFederal democracy
Area
 • Total8.59 km2 (3.32 sq mi)
Elevation
87 m (285 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total48,480
 • Density5,600/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Languages (*For language details see Godda (community development block)#Language and religion)
 • OfficialHindi, Urdu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
814133
Telephone code06422
Vehicle registrationJH-17
Websitegodda.nic.in

History

As a consequence of the Santhal rebellion of 1845-55 the district of Santhal Paragna was created from portions of Bhagalpur and Birbhum. Godda was a part of Santhal Pargana district until 1983, when the old Godda sub-division of Santhal Pargana was separated to form a new district. The new district of Godda was created on 17 May 1983 out of the old Santhal Pargana district which was upgraded to the level of division. Godda(M), the only town of the district, is the headquarters of Godda district, Godda subdivision, and Godda block.

Geography
🌍
Cities, towns and locations in the Sahibganj, Godda and Pakur districts in Santhal Pargana Division
M: municipality, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious/ tourist centre
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Godda is located at 24.83°N 87.22°E / 24.83; 87.22.[1] It has an average elevation of 77 metres (252 feet). Godda came into existence as the 55th district of undivided Bihar on 25 May 1983. After the bifurcation of Bihar into Jharkhand state on 15 November 2000, it was one of 18 districts of Jharkhand. National Highway 133 (NH-133) passes through the city of Godda.

Overview

Godda lies in a hilly area with the Rajmahal hills running from the bank of the Ganges in the extreme north to south. It is close to the Farakka Barrage, just inside West Bengal; the Rajmahal coalfield is also nearby. The area around Godda is overwhelmingly rural with only small pockets of urbanisation.[2]

Note: The full screen map is interesting. All places marked on the map are linked and you can easily move on to another page of your choice. Enlarge the map to see what else is there – one gets railway links, many more road links and so on.

Demographics

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1961 7,500—    
1971 9,733+29.8%
1981 14,917+53.3%
1991 23,637+58.5%
2001 37,008+56.6%
2011 48,480+31.0%
Source: Census of India[3]

According to the 2011 Census of India, Godda had a total population of 48,480, of which 25,707 (53%) were males and 22,773 (47%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 6,745. The total number of literate persons in Godda was 41,735 (84.30% of the population over 6 years).[4]

Infrastructure

According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Godda, the urban area of Godda covered an area of 8.59km2. Panjwara Road railway station on the Dumka-Bhagalpur line is 20km away. Among the civic amenities, the town had 17.1km roads with open drains. The protected water supply includes hand pumps, and uncovered wells. Residences in Godda have 7,319 domestic electric connections, and there are 350 road light points around the town.

Medical facilities are 4 hospitals, 3 dispensaries, 3 health centres, 1 family welfare centre, 1 maternity and child welfare centre, 1 maternity home, 1 TB hospital/clinic, 1 nursing home, 4 charitable hospital/nursing homes, 1 veterinary hospital, and 12 medicine shops.

Educational facilities in Godda include 34 primary schools, 25 middle schools, 6 secondary schools, 5 senior secondary schools, 2 general degree colleges, 1 non-formal education centre (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan).

Social, cultural and recreational facilities were 1 orphanage home, 1 stadium, 1 cinema/theatre, 1 auditorium/community hall, 1 public library, 1 reading room. It had the branch offices of 12 nationalised banks, 2 private commercial banks, 1 cooperative bank.[5]

Economy

Agriculture is predominant in the region. Rice, wheat and maize are the main crops grown here, along with vegetables, linseeds and sugarcane. Fruits like mango, banana, jack fruit, and plum are grown in the region. Some small and middle-scale industries are also present in Godda.

Traditionally, Godda produced pattal (leaf plates), and furniture. During the late 20th century, Godda saw industrialization and many major industrial projects came to the town. Jindal Steel & Powers at Tesubathan (Sunderpahari) constructed a 1320 MW capacity thermal power plant.[6] Adani Power is establishing its 1600 MW thermal power plant at Godda and it will become India's first power sector Special Economic Zone.[7]

Rajmahal Coal Mining Ltd, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Groups operates the mine of Eastern Coalfields at Mahagama.[8] Lalmatia Colliery of ECL is one of the oldest and biggest mining projects in India. Eastern Coalfields also operates mines at Sunderpahari and Boarijore blocks of Godda.

Connectivity

Godda is well connected with road and rail links. The Godda railway station is situated around 4km from city center. Humsafar Express was the first train to depart from the Godda railway station on 8 April 2021.[9] This weekly train connects Godda to New Delhi via Bhagalpur and Gaya. Godda also has trains connecting it to Bhagalpur, Dumka, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Sealdah and Patna.

The national highway NH-133 passes through Godda.

Places of interest

Again Shaktipeeth at Pathargama is one of the Shakti Peetha of the Shaktism tradition in India. Here the thighs of Sati fell when she died and Shiva carried her body while tandava.

Basantrai was named after Raja Basant Rai, the ruler of the region. There is a big tank built by him. It is known for miraculous powers and according to legend, no one has ever been able to cross the tank from one end to another. Fairs are always organised at its bank for 15 days beginning from Chaita Sankranti festival held on 14 April.

Sunder Dam is the biggest irrigation project constructed on Sundar River near Rajabhitha village (Pathargama) and this is a beautiful picnic spot for the tourist.

Biodiversity Park Godda consists of various herbs and trees. It is a new point of attraction among local peoples and has been used for shooting Santhali songs.

Notable people

References
  1. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Godda
  2. Roychoudhury, P.C. (1965). "Bihar District Gazetteers: Santhal Parganas". Chapter I: General. Secretariat Press, Patna, 1965. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  3. "District Census Handbook Godda, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Statement I: Status and Growth History, Page 1082. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. "District Census Handbook, Godda, Series 21, Part XII B" (PDF). Page 25: District primary census abstract, 2011 census. Directorate of Census Operations Jharkhand. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. "District Census Handbook Godda, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 1082-1086. Directorate of census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  6. Majumdar, Rakhi (30 April 2013). "JSPL to come up with 1320 MW thermal power plant at Godda". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  7. Chandrasekhar, Aruna (25 March 2019). "In final days of Modi government, Adani project in Jharkhand becomes India's first power sector SEZ". Scroll.in. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  8. "The best site". www.esselmining.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  9. "Indian Railways launches Hansdiha-Godda new line in Jharkhand; starts Godda-New Delhi Humsafar special train". 9 April 2021.
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