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Area |
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114 sq km |
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Union Territory Portal |
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Population |
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900,635 |
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Capital |
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Chandigarh |
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Principal Languages |
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Hindi, Punjabi, English |
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HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
Chandigarh nestles in a picturesque setting in the foothills of Shivalik hills and enjoys the popular epithet the City Beautiful. Representative of modern architecture and town planning, the city is a creation of the French architect, Le Corbusier. Chandigarh and its surrounding area were constituted as a Union Territory on 1 November, 1966. It serves as the joint capital of both Punjab and Haryana states. It is bounded on north and west by Punjab, and on the east and south by Haryana.
AGRICULTURE
The Union Territory Chandigarh has limited area under Agriculture. The agricultural land is being gradually acquired for the expansion of Chandigarh City, and cultivated area has shrunk from 5,441 hectares in 1966 to 1,400 hectares in 2002-03. The main sources of irrigation are deep-bore tube-wells installed by the Administration and shallow tube-wells installed by individual farmers. The main crop of foodgrain is wheat and it is sown nearly in 700 hectares of land. The Department is making efforts to promote techniques of harvesting by following measures: (i) Extension and Farmers Study/Training Tour, (ii) Development of Kitchen Garden, (iii) Soil and Water Conservation.
INDUSTRY
There are 15 large and medium industries, and about 3,140 small-scale industrial units in the State, offering employment to about 30,000 persons and giving an annual output of approximately Rs 600 crore. These units are mainly ancillary units engaged in the manufacturing of industrial fasteners, steel and wooden furniture, machine tools, soaps and detergents, pharmaceuticals, electrical/electronic items, sanitary fittings, sports goods, plastic goods, knitting needles, etc. There are about 20 major exporting units in Chandigarh, which export goods to the tune of Rs 60 crore (approximately) annually. Although in national terms, the quantity of exports may appear to be rather small, the Administration's efforts now are to promote only hi-tech electronic and information technology, non-polluting industry besides the export oriented industry for future expansion.
POWER
Chandigarh gets power from neighbouring states and Central generation projects to meet its power requirement. It has 3.5 per cent share of total power generation of Bhakra complex. Further, the firm allocation is 82.9 mw , out of thermal, nuclear and gas based Central generation projects. The shortfall is being met through ad hoc allocation from BBMB besides Central projects. All the villages around the city stand electrified and have been extended the facility of public lighting. About 2,000 number of energy efficient lamps have been installed in various important buildings.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The Administration is implementing e-governance in order to provide citizens with Single window, online facilities. Under e-Governance, significant work has been done in the Departments of Excise and Taxation, Licensing and Registering Authority, Registration of Birth and Deaths, and Police, Citizen's portal, which would be accessed either through the Internet or through a chain of Information Centres by the public. An Optic Fibre Network has also been set up in the city by private companies at their own cost. Part of this Network is being utilised to connect Government Offices and Information Centres. A 111 acre site has been allocated by the Administration for a Technology Park near Kishangarh, for attracting Technology Companies to set up their facilities. A Centre of Excellence has been set up in the Punjab Engineering College by the Department in collaboration with Microsoft. Chandigarh Incubation Facilities are being provided at the Punjab Engineering College, where eight companies have presently been accommodated.
TRANSPORT
Chandigarh Transport Undertaking has the privilege to operate public transport plied on sub-urban routes, city routes and on inter-state routes. The length of national highways is 15.275 km. Chandigarh is well connected by all, road and air as well.
TOURIST CENTRES
Important tourist centres are Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Sukhna Lake, Museum and Art Gallery, City Museum, Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill Museum of Evolution, Kala Gram, Log Huts, Nepli Forests, Fitness Trails (in Leisure Valley), National Gallery of Portraits, Central Plaza, International Doll Museum and Smriti Upvan.
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