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Area : 491 sq km
Population : 220,490
Capital : Silvassa
Principal Languages : Gujarati, Hindi
After prolonged skirmishes
between the Portuguese and the Marathas, on 17
December, 1779, the Maratha Government assigned
the aggregated revenue of Rs 12,000 in a few
villages of this territory to the Protuguese as
compensation to ensure their friendship. The
Portuguese ruled this territory until its
liberation by the people on 2 August, 1954. From
1954 till 1961, the territory functioned almost
independently by what was known as ‘‘Free Dadra
and Nagar Haveli Administration''. However, the
territory was merged with the Indian Union on 11
August, 1961, and since then, is being
administered by the Government of India as a
Union Territory. After liberation of the
territory from Portuguese rule, a Varishtha
Panchayat was working as an advisory body
of the Administration. This was dissolved in
August 1989,
and a Pradesh Council for Dadra and
Nagar Haveli District Panchayat and 11 Village
Panchayats were constituted as per
constitutional amendments at All India level.
The U.T. of Dadra and Nagar Haveli has an area
of 491 sq km, and it is surrounded by Gujarat
and Maharashtra. It consists of two pockets
namely, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The nearest
railway station is at Vapi, which is 18 km from
Silvassa.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a
predominantly rural area with about 79 per cent
tribal population. It has about 21,115 hectares
under cultivation. Major crop is paddy (
Kharif ), while Nagli and other hill
millets are crops of the area. Among fruits,
Mango, Chiku, and Banana, etc., are also
produced. Forests cover 40 per cent of the total
geographical area.
Prior to 1965-66, there was no industry in
the Union Territory. There were a few
traditional craftsmen who used to make pots,
leather items, viz., chappals, shoes and some
other items of bamboo. Industrial development
started on a low-key with the establishment of
an industrial estate under the cooperative
sector by Dan Udyog Sahakari Sangh Ltd.
Thereafter, three Government Industrial Estates
have been developed at Silvassa, Masat and
Khadoli in the U.T. There are more than 1,600
S.S.I. units, which include Cottage, Village
Industries and 430 Medium Scale/Large Scale
Industries in Textiles, Engineering, Plastics,
Electronics, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, etc.,
employing more than 43,100 persons.
Prior to liberation of the
territory, there was no irrigation facility, and
cultivators had to fully depend upon rainfall.
After the merger of the territory with the
Indian Union, adequate steps were taken under
minor irrigation sector.
There was no rural electrification prior to
liberation of this territory. The electricity
was provided with only one DG Set, which was
installed and operated in Silvassa Town for VIPs
at Circuit House.
After liberation, the UT Administration
commenced rural electrification work with the
co-operation of the neighbouring State of
Gujarat, and completed electrification work in
25 villages by 1976. The power demand of the UT
is met by Gujarat Electricity Board through a
single Circuit from Vapi-Silvasa, and
distributed amongst limited number of consumers.
With the commissioning of the said Sub-Station,
the electricity department is in a position to
provide electricity to all villages.
The Power requirement of the territory is
being met from Central Sector Power Generating
Stations located in the western region. The
power demand has increased tremendously due to
rapid industrialisation with the extension of
Tax Holiday benefit to this UT by the Government
of India.
The Union Territory depends heavily
on Maharashtra and Gujarat road network as the
territory can be accessed only after crossing
these two States from Mumbai. At present road
length is about 629 km. out of which 560 km. is
surfaced. Almost all villages are connected with
all weather roads. The rail route from Mumbai to
Ahmedabad links Vapi also. Mumbai is the nearest
airport. Recently, the work of widening of roads
in the Union Territory has been taken up to meet
the requirement of increasing vehicular
traffic.
To meet the need of rapid industrialisation,
four laning work has been taken up in Silvassa
and adjoining areas, besides other spillover
works. Converting of two lane road to four lane
road for Dadra — Tighra road is under
progress.
Normally, all festivals of Hindus,
Muslims and Christians are celebrated in the
territory, while tribals celebrate their own
festivals. Diwaso is celebrated by Dhodia and
Varli tribes, and Raksha Bandhan is celebrated
by Dhodia tribe. Other festivals include Bhawada
amongst Varlist, Koli tribes and Khali Puja by
all tribes after harvesting of crops and Gram
Devi before harvesting of crops.
Tourism sector has been assigned high
priority, keeping in view the dense forest area
and favourable climate. The prominent places of
tourist interest are Tadekeshwar Shiva Mandir,
Bindrabin, Deer Park at Khanvel, Vanganga Lake
and Island Garden, Dadra, Vanvihar Udhyan Mini
Zoo, Bal Udhyan, Tribal Museum, and Hirvavan
Garden at Silvassa. To encourage tourism
activities, some traditional and modern cultural
activities like celebreation of Tarpa Festival,
Kite festival, World Tourism day, etc., are
organised every year.
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