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Thane

Population (2001 census): 8,128,833 Literacy rate (2001): 81% Below poverty line: 19% Infant mortality rate (IMR): 11 Getting there >> Air: Nearest airport is Mumbai (35 kms). Rail: Connected by rail (broad gauge route) from Mumbai and Pune (143 kms). Road: State highways and roads link district headquarters at Thane to all 15 tehsils (subdistricts) and towns. National highway No 8 passes through the district. Thane is also linked to National highway Nos 4 and 17.

Physical

Geographical location: Between 18°42’ and 20°20’ North latitudes and 72°45’ to 73°45’ East longitudes in eastern part of the state Area: 9,558 sq km Adjoining districts: North: Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and state of Gujarat; east: Nashik and Ahmednagar; south: Raigad and Greater Bombay; southeast: Pune; west: Arabian Sea Major urban centres: Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi, Ambarnath, Vasai Major crops: Rice, wheat, chillies Major rivers: Vaitarana, Ulhas Total no. of sub-districts: 15

Demography (2001 census)

Population: 8,128,833 Density of population (persons/sq km): 850 Men: 4,377,806 Women: 3,751,027 Total rural population: 2,228,873 Total urban population: 5,899,960 % of Scheduled castes: 5.18 % % of Scheduled tribes: 18.12% Sex-ratio (females/1000 males): 857

Social development indicators (2000-01)

Below poverty line: 19% Infant mortality rate (IMR): 11 Maternal mortality rate: 0.3 Birth rate: 17.3 Death rate: 3.4

Climate

Max temp in °C: 41°C Min temp in °C: 9°C Average rainfall in mm: 2293.4 mm

Economy

Industries: Textiles, chemicals, oil refining, plastic, radio, matches, salt pans Industrial centres: Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi Main markets: Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi Main banking centres: Thane, Kalyan, Vasai, Ulhasnagar

Disaster vulnerability

Flood: Yes Earthquake: Yes Cyclone: No Drought: Yes Relief machinery: NA

Medical facilities

Hospitals: 33 hospitals, 22 health centres (urban; 1991) Health facilities: The district has a network of government-run health facilities consisting of the district hospital offering tertiary-level care, with rural hospitals at the secondary level and primary health centres, sub-centres and dispensaries providing basic healthcare to the rural population. Around 16% of the villages had these primary health facilities (1991) covering 35% of the rural population. It had 1.18 beds per 1,000 persons in urban medical institutions (1991) Blood banks: 8

Language

Language: Marathi is the local language. But people also speak Hindi, Urdu and English.

Food

Food: The staple food of the locals is rice and among some communities fish is commonly eaten.

Transportation and communication

Post and telegraph services: Postal and telegraph offices: 13 per 100,000 population State highways passing through the district and road services: The National Highways passing through the district are Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore; Mumbai-Agra; and Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Delhi. Several important state highways also pass through the district. Around 65% of the total inhabited villages covering 77% of the rural population, have access to transport services.-- Important railway stations and railway services: Kalyan junction, Thane, Vasai. All major trains from Mumbai pass through the district. The Konkan railway also passes through the district

Voluntary agencies

Culture and Religion

Fairs and festivals: Around 340 fairs in rural areas and 30 in urban areas are held every year. The two most important fairs are the Mahalaxmi fair held during September-October in Dahanu and the Mhasoba fair in April-March in Murbad which attract more than 100,000 devotees. Apart from these two the other fairs are the Haji Malang fair at Kalyan and the Ambareshwar fair at Ambarnath. Religious places: Kankeshwar, Mahad, Pali, Shivthargal, Harihareshwar History: Thane, which forms part of the Konkan coast of Maharashtra, was in ancient times known as ‘Shreesthanak’. It was a port and commercial centre. Ruled by the Mauryans, Shilharas, Yadavas in ancient times, in the medieval period it came under the rule of the Khilji rulers of Delhi. Subsequently in the 17th century it came under Maratha rule and remained so till 1818 when the Marathas lost to the British. Present-day Thane district was part of the North Konkan district, which in 1833 was renamed Thane district. It was part of Bombay Province till it was bifurcated in 1960 in post-independence India and the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra were created. Thane became a district of Maharashtra and is part of the Konkan Division.