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Area : 3,08,000 sq km
Population : 60,385,118
Capital : Bhopal
Principal Languages : Hindi
Madhya Pradesh is the
second largest Sate in India, and geographically
occupies pivotal position in the country. King
Ashoka first of all ruled over Ujjain. A
sizeable portion of Central India was part of
the Gupta Empire (300-500 A.D.). The Muslims
came into Central India in the beginning of 11th
century, Mahmud of Ghazni being the first of
them, followed by Mohammad Gouri, who
incorporated some parts of Central India into
his ruling territory of Delhi. Central India was
also part of the Mughal Empire. During the
period between the beginning of the influence of
Marathas and the death of Madhoji Scindia in
1794, the Marathas were in power in Central
India, but later on, other small states started
coming into existence. These small states became
the cause of perpetuation of British power in
the country. Queen
Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore,
the Gond Maharani Kamalapti and Queen Durgawati,
etc., were some women rulers, whose names have
left an indelible imprint on Indian history for
their outstanding rule. Madhya Pradesh came into
being on 1 November, 1956. It was reorganised on
1 November 2000 to create a new Chhattisgarh
state. The successive state is bound in north by
Uttar Pradesh, east by Chhattisgarh, south by
Maharashtra, and west by Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The District Planning Committees for the
district level governance have been empowered to
plan and execute development works. A system of
village level governance, Gram Swaraj
is operative. The Gram Sabhas have
been equipped with extensive executive and
financial powers regarding development matters.
Agriculture
is the mainstay of State’s economy as 74.73 per
cent of the people are rural. As much as 49 per
cent of the land area is cultivable.
The net sown area during 2004-2005 was
estimated at about 12.47 m. ha. The foodgrain
production was 14.10m. metric tonne. The
productivity of major crops like wheat, rice,
pulses has also been good. The National
Horticulture Mission has been implemented in 20
districts. A separate Horticulture and Food
Processing Department has been set
up.
Madhya Pradesh has
entered the era of high-tech industries such as
electronics, telecommunications, automobiles,
Information Technology, etc. The state is
producing optical fibre for telecommunication
needs. A large number of automobile industries
have been established at Pithampur near Indore.
Prominent industries in the public sector in the
state are Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. at
Bhopal, Secruity Paper Mill at Hoshangabad, Bank
Note Press at Dewas, Newsprint Factory at
Nepanagar and Alkaloid Factory
at Neemuch.
The cement production touched 12.49 million
metric tonne during the period. An Air Cargo
Complex is coming up at Pithampur. The
Government of India has set up a Special
Economic Zone at Indore. Foreign Direct
Investment is being promoted by implementing the
comprehensive Economic Development Policy. The
state government has announced an Industries
Promotion Policy offering attractive incentives
for investment in the state. Letters of intent
for establishment of industries with an
investment of Rs. 5200 crore have since been
received. The docks have been cleared for the
long pending Rs. 10,300 crore Oman Bina Refinary
Project at Bina in Sagar district. The
Government of India has also sanctioned a
National Auto Testing and Research and
Development Infrastructure Project to be set up
at Pithampur in Dhar district.
The State Government has implemented a new
I.T. Policy to attract private investment in
I.T. sector.
Madhya Pradesh is a mineral rich state. The
state produced minerals worth Rs. 5050.05 in
2004-05. It produces 21 types of minerals. The
output of minerals in 2004-05 was -dolomite -128
thousand metric tonne, diamond - 78315 thousand
carats, limestone-24938 thosuand metric tonne,
bauxite-196 thousand million metric tonne and
copper ore - 2054 thousand million metric tonne.
The coal production was 52683 thousand metric
tonne. The State is famous for its traditiional
handicrafts and handloom cloths manufactured
in Chanderi and Maheshwar.
The net area under irrigation
was 6.19 million-hectare in the year 2004-2005.
There is a target to increase the irrigation
facilities from 39 per cent to 50 per cent. A
Rs.1919 crore Water Sector Restructuring Project
has been taken up to restore irrigation facility
in five lakh hectares by renovating the existing
irrigation system in 30 districts.
Madhya Pradesh is rich in low-grade coal
suitable for power generation and also has
immense potential of hydro-energy. Total
installed power generation capacity in year
2004-2005 was 7405 M.W. There are eight
hydroelectric power stations with 747.5 MW
installed capacity. A total of 50,475 out of
51806 villages had been electrified. Power
generation is 2050 M.W.
The Government of M.P. has formed a joint
venture (Narmada Hydro Electric Development
Corporation) with National Hydro-Electric Power
Corporation, a Government of India undertaking
for execution of 1000 M.W. Indira Sagar
Hydro-electric Project and 520 M.W. Omkareshwar
Hydro-Electric Power Project. The Indira Sagar
Project has been completed ahead of schedule.
The state government has enacted Madhya Pradesh
Power Reform Act for qualitative improvement in
energy sector. Five companies have been
constituted for generation, distribution and
transmission.
Madhya Pradesh Rural
Employment Scheme has been implemented in 18
districts. M.P. has topped in the country in its
implementation. National Horticulture Mission
has been launched to boost horticulture
production and productivity in the state.
Roads :
The
total length of roads in the state is 72416 km.
The length of national highway in the state is
4676 km while State highway extends to 8099 km.
The state government has taken up the
construction and upgradation of roads in a big
way and about 60 thousand kilometres roads will
be constructed and upgraded. The year 2005 is
being observed as the Year of Roads during which
every month construction of an important road
would be completed.
Railways :
The main rail route linking Northern India with
Southern India passes through Madhya Pradesh.
Main junctions in the state are Bhopal, Bina,
Gwalior, Indore, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Ratlam
and Ujjain. The divisional railways headquarters
are at Bhopal, Ratlam and Jabalpur.
A
number of festivals are celebrated in Madhya
Pradesh. An important tribal festival is
Bhagoriya marked by traditional gaiety and
enthusiasm. Shivratri is celebrated in
Khajuraho, Bhojpur, Pachmarhi and Ujjain and has
its own local flavour while Ramnavami festival
at Chitrakoot and Orchha has a unique sense of
devotion imbued with tradition. Festivals of
Orchha, Malwa, Pachmarhi bring to the fore,
repertoire of culture and art of the people.
Tansen Music Festival, Gwalior, Ustad Allauddin
Khan Music Festival of Maihar, Kalidas Samaroh,
Ujjain and Festival of Dances at Khajuraho are
some of the wellknown art festivals of Madhya
Pradesh. An annual Narmada Festival has been
started from this year at Bhedhaghat in
Jabalpur, famous for its marble rocks. A
Shivpuri Festival has been started from this
year at Shivpuri.
Perfectly
preserved medieval cities, refreshing and
enchanting wildlife sanctuaries and some of the
holiest and most revered pilgrim centres offer
to the tourist the most fulfilling experience.
Tranquil beauty of Pachmarhi, glittering
splendour of Marble Rocks and roaring sound of
Dhuandhar Fall at Bhedaghat, Kanha National
Park, with its unique Barasingha and Bandhavgarh
National Park with its prehistoric caves and
wildlife are some of the major attractions of
the state. Gwalior, Mandu, Datia, Chanderi,
Jabalpur, Orchha, Raisen, Sanchi, Vidisha,
Udaygiri, Bhimbetika, Indore and Bhopal are the
places well-known for their historical
monuments. Maheshwar, Omkareshwar, Ujjain,
Chitrakoot and Amarkantak are major centres of
pilgrimage. Unique temples of Khajuraho are
famous all over the world. The temples of
Orchha, Bhojpur and Udaypur attract large number
of tourists as well as
pilgrims.
Archaeological treasures are
preserved in the museums at Satna, Sanchi,
Vidisha, Gwalior, Indore, Mandsaur, Ujjain,
Rajgarh, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Rewa and may other
places. Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Amarkantak
have been declared as holy cities for their
integrated development in accordance with their
religious significance. Burhanpur is being
developed as a new tourist destination.
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