South 24 Parganas

South 24 Parganas district (Bengali: দক্ষিণ চব্বিশ পরগণা জেলা) is an important district of West Bengal State with its district headquarters in Alipore. It has the urban fringe of Calcutta on one side and the remote riverine villages in the Sundarbans.
Contents [hide]
1 Overview
2 Subdivisions
2.1 Baruipur subdivision
2.2 Canning subdivision
2.3 Diamond Harbour subdivision
2.4 Kakdwip subdivision
2.5 Alipore Sadar subdivision
3 Assembly constituencies
3.1 Impact of delimitation of constituencies
4 References
5 External links
[edit]Overview

Agriculture, Industry and Pisciculture are all at their peak in the district. Sundarbans, formerly Sunderbunds, is a vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the Ganges Delta, extending about 160 miles (260 km) along the Bay of Bengal from the Hooghly River Estuary (India) to the Meghna River Estuary in Bangladesh. The whole tract reaches inland for 60–80 miles (100–130 km).
A network of estuaries, tidal rivers, and creeks intersected by numerous channels, it encloses flat, marshy islands covered with dense forests. The name Sundarbans is perhaps derived from the term meaning "forest of sundari," a reference to the large mangrove tree that provides valuable fuel. Along the coast the forest passes into a mangrove swamp; the southern region, with numerous wild animals and crocodile-infested estuaries, is virtually uninhabited. It is one of the last preserves of the Bengal tiger and the site of a tiger preservation project. The cultivated northern area yields rice, sugarcane, timber, and betel nuts.
The region is also famous for some commonly domesticated livestock breeds which includes the Garole breed of sheep and Chinae hans or Muscuovy ducks, the Garole sheep is considered as the progenator of the Booroola merino sheep and is noted for its prolific character. However, the wool of the sheep which can be a valuable natural asset does not find any use among the natives. Bakkhali beach resort located on one of the islands jutting out into the Bay of Bengal is gaining in popularity, with improvements in transport links with Kolkata.
[edit]Subdivisions



South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal
The district comprises five subdivisions: Baruipur, Canning, Diamond Harbour, Kakdwip and Alipore Sadar. Baruipur subdivision consists of three municipalities (Baruipur, Rajpur Sonarpur and Jaynagar Mazilpur) and seven community development blocks: Baruipur, Bhangar–I, Bhangar–II, Jaynagar–I, Jaynagar–II, Kultali and Sonarpur. Canning subdivision consists of four community development blocks: Basanti, Canning–I, Canning–II and Gosaba. Diamond Harbour subdivision consists of Diamond Harbour municipality and nine community development blocks: Diamond Harbour–I, Diamond Harbour–II, Falta, Kulpi, Magrahat–I, Magrahat–II, Mandirbazar, Mathurapur–I and Mathurapur–II. Kakdwip subdivision consists of four community development blocks: Kakdwip, Namkhana, Patharpratima and Sagar. Alipore Sadar subdivision consists of three municipalities (Budge Budge, Pujali and Maheshtala) and five community development blocks: Bishnupur–I, Bishnupur–II, Budge Budge–I, Budge Budge–II and Thakurpukur Maheshtala.[1]
Alipore is the district headquarters. There are 33 police stations, 29 development blocks, 7 municipalities and 312 gram panchayats in this district.[1][2] The Sunderbans area is covered by thirteen CD blocks, viz. Sagar, Namkhana, Kakdwip, Patharpratima, Kultali, Mathurapur–I, Mathurapur–II, Jaynagar–I, Jaynagar–II, Canning–I, Canning–II, Basanti and Gosaba.[2] This district contains 37 islands.[2]
Other than municipality area, each subdivision contains community development blocks which in turn are divided into rural areas and census towns. In total there are 21 urban units: 7 municipalities and 14 census towns.[2][3]
[edit]Baruipur subdivision
Three municipalities: Baruipur, Rajpur Sonarpur and Jaynagar Mazilpur.[2]
Baruipur community development block consists of rural areas only with 19 gram panchayats.
Bhangar–I community development block consists of rural areas with 9 gram panchayats and one census town: Bhangar Raghunathpur.
Bhangar–II community development block consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
Jaynagar–I community development block consists of rural areas with 12 gram panchayats and one census town: Uttar Durgapur.
Jaynagar–II community development block consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
Kultali community development block consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
Sonarpur community development block consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats.
[edit]Canning subdivision
Basanti community development block consists of rural areas only with 13 gram panchayats.
Canning–I community development block consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
Canning–II community development block consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
Gosaba community development block consists of rural areas only with 14 gram panchayats.
[edit]Diamond Harbour subdivision
One municipality: Diamond Harbour
Diamond Harbour–I community development block consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Diamond Harbour–II community development block consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Falta community development block consists of rural areas only with 13 gram panchayats.
Kulpi community development block consists of rural areas only with 14 gram panchayats.
Magrahat–I community development block consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats.
Magrahat–II community development block consists of rural areas with 14 gram panchayats and two census towns: Uttar Kalas and Bilandapur.
Mandirbazar community development block consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
Mathurapur–I community development block consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
Mathurapur–II community development block consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats.
[edit]Kakdwip subdivision
Kakdwip community development block consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats.
Namkhana community development block consists of rural areas only with 7 gram panchayats.
Patharpratima community development block consists of rural areas only with 15 gram panchayats.
Sagar community development block consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
[edit]Alipore Sadar subdivision
Three municipalities: Budge Budge, Pujali and Maheshtala.
Bishnupur–I community development block consists of rural areas with 11 gram panchayats and two census towns: Bishnupur and Kanyanagar.
Bishnupur–II community development block consists of rural areas with 11 gram panchayats and two census towns: Amtala and Chak Enayetnagar.
Budge Budge–I community development block consists of rural areas with 6 gram panchayats and three census towns: Balarampur, Uttar Raypur and Birlapur.
Budge Budge–II community development block consists of rural areas with 11 gram panchayats and two census towns: Chak Kashipur and Bowali.
Thakurpukur Maheshtala community development block consists of rural areas with 6 gram panchayats and one census town: Chata Kalikapur.
[edit]Assembly constituencies

The district is divided into 32 assembly constituencies:[4]
Gosaba (SC) (assembly constituency no. 100),
Basanti (SC) (assembly constituency no. 101),
Kultali (SC) (assembly constituency no. 102),
Jaynagar (assembly constituency no. 103),
Baruipur (assembly constituency no. 104),
Canning West (SC) (assembly constituency no. 105),
Canning East (assembly constituency no. 106),
Bhanagar (assembly constituency no. 107),
Jadavpur (assembly constituency no. 108),
Sonarpur (SC) (assembly constituency no. 109),
Bishnupur East (SC) (assembly constituency no. 110),
Bishnupur West (assembly constituency no. 111),
Behala East (assembly constituency no. 112),
Behala West (assembly constituency no. 113),
Garden Reach (assembly constituency no. 114),
Maheshtala (assembly constituency no. 115),
Budge Budge (assembly constituency no. 116),
Satgachia (assembly constituency no. 117),
Falta (assembly constituency no. 118),
Diamond Harbour (assembly constituency no. 119),
Magrahat West (assembly constituency no. 120),
Magrahat East (SC) (assembly constituency no. 121),
Mandirbazar (SC) (assembly constituency no. 122),
Mathurapur (assembly constituency no. 123),
Kulpi (SC) (assembly constituency no. 124),
Patharpratima (assembly constituency no. 125),
Kakdwip (assembly constituency no. 126),
Sagar (assembly constituency no. 127),
Kabitirtha (assembly constituency no. 147),
Alipore (assembly constituency no. 148),
Tollygunge (assembly constituency no. 150) and
Dhakuria (assembly constituency no. 151).
Gosaba, Basanti, Kultali, Canning West, Sonarpur, Bishnupur East, Magrahat East, Mandirbazar and Kulpi constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with one assembly constituency from North 24 Parganas district, Gosaba, Basanti, Kultali, Jaynagar, Canning West and Canning East assembly constituencies form the Joynagar (Lok Sabha constituency), which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). Baruipur, Jadavpur, Bishnupur East, Behala East, Behala West, Magrahat West and Kabitirtha constituencies form the Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency). Bishnupur West, Garden Reach, Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Satgachia, Falta and Diamond Harbour constituencies form the Diamond Harbour (Lok Sabha constituency). Magrahat East, Mandirbazar, Mathurapur, Kulpi, Patharpratima, Kakdwip and Sagar constituencies form the Mathurapur (Lok Sabha constituency), which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). Along with six assembly segments from North 24 Parganas district, Bhangar assembly constituency forms the Basirhat (Lok Sabha constituency). Along with three assembly constituencies from Kolkata district, Sonarpur, Alipore, Tollygunge and Dhakuria form the Calcutta South (Lok Sabha constituency).
[edit]Impact of delimitation of constituencies
As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district will be divided into 31 assembly constituencies:[5]
Gosaba (SC) (assembly constituency no. 127),
Basanti (SC) (assembly constituency no. 128),
Kultali (SC) (assembly constituency no. 129),
Patharpratima (assembly constituency no. 130),
Kakdwip (assembly constituency no. 131),
Sagar (assembly constituency no. 132),
Kulpi (assembly constituency no. 133),
Raidighi (assembly constituency no. 134),
Mandirbazar (SC) (assembly constituency no. 135),
Jaynagar (SC) (assembly constituency no. 136),
Baruipur East (SC) (assembly constituency no. 137),
Canning West (SC) (assembly constituency no. 138),
Canning East (assembly constituency no. 139),
Baruipur West (assembly constituency no. 140),
Magrahat East (SC) (assembly constituency no. 142),
Magrahat West (assembly constituency no. 143),
Diamond Harbour (assembly constituency no. 144),
Falta (assembly constituency no. 118),
Satgachia (assembly constituency no. 117),
Bishnupur (SC) (assembly constituency no. 110),
Sonarpur South (assembly constituency no. 109),
Bhanagar (assembly constituency no. 107),
Kasba (assembly constituency no. 107),
Jadavpur (assembly constituency no. 108),
Sonarpur North (assembly constituency no. 109),
Tollygunge (assembly constituency no. 150) and
Behala East (assembly constituency no. 112),
Behala West (assembly constituency no. 113),
Maheshtala (assembly constituency no. 115),
Budge Budge (assembly constituency no. 116),
Metiaburuz (assembly constituency no. 147),
Gosaba, Basanti, Kultali, Mandirbazar, Jaynagar, Baruipur East, Magrahat East and Bishnupur constituencies will be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Gosaba, Basanti, Kultali, Jaynagar, Canning West, Canning East and Magrahat East assembly constituencies will form the Jaynagar (Lok Sabha constituency), which will be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). Patharpratima, Kakdwip, Sagar, Kulpi, Raidighi, Mandirbazar and Magrahat West constituencies will form the Mathurapur (Lok Sabha constituency), which will be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). Diamond Harbour, Falta, Satgachia, Bishnupur, Maheshtala, Budge Budge and Metiaburuz constituencies will form the Diamond Harbour (Lok Sabha constituency). Baruipur East, Baruipur West, Sonarpur South, Bhangar, Jadavpur, Sonarpur North and Tollyganj constituencies will form the Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency). Along with six assembly segments from North 24 Parganas district, Bhangar assembly constituency forms the Basirhat (Lok Sabha constituency). Along with four assembly constituencies from Kolkata district, Kasba, Behala East and Behala West will form the Calcutta South (Lok Sabha constituency).
[edit]References

^ a b "Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008". West Bengal. National Informatics Centre, India. 2008-03-19. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
^ a b c d e "District Profile". Official website of South 24 Parganas district. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
^ "Population, Decadal Growth Rate, Density and General Sex Ratio by Residence and Sex, West Bengal/ District/ Sub District, 1991 and 2001". West Bengal. Directorate of census operations. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
^ "General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies". West Bengal. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
^ "Press Note, Delimitation Commission". Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal. Delimitation Commission. Retrieved 2008-11-21.