{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Pakhanjur | other_name = Pakhanjore | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | nickname = | image_map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|coord={{Coord|20.0346544|N|80.6255085|E}}|zoom=15|frame-width=300|frame-height=400|frame-align=center|type=point|title=Pakhanjur|marker=town|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080}} | map_alt = | map_caption = Interactive map of Pakhanjur | pushpin_map = India Chhattisgarh#India | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Chhattisgarh, India | coordinates = {{coord|20.0346544|N|80.6255085|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name1 = Chhattisgarh | subdivision_name2 = Kanker | established_title = <!-- Established --> | established_date = 1958 | founder = | named_for = | government_type = Nagar Panchayat (Notified Area Council) | governing_body = Nagar Panchayat Pakhanjur | leader_title = Council President | leader_name = Narayan Saha (BJP) | leader_title1 = Sub-Divisional Magistrate | leader_name1 = Anjor Singh Paikra | leader_title2 = Additional Superintendent of Police | leader_name2 = Rakesh Kumar Kurre (IPS) | leader_title3 = Sub-Divisional Police Officer | leader_name3 = Ravi Kumar Kujur | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_rank = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = 10201 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_footnotes = <ref name="CensusGov2011"/> | population_density_km2 = auto | population_rank = | population_demonym = | demographics_type1 = Language | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Hindi,<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=Ministry of Minority Affairs|access-date=7 December 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref> Chhattisgarhi<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Ritesh |last2=Sahay |first2=Abhinav |title=Chhattisgarh CM writes to PM Narendra Modi, demands inclusion of Chhattisgarhi dialect in 8th Schedule |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-cm-writes-to-pm-narendra-modi-demands-inclusion-of-chhattisgarhi-dialect-in-8th-schedule/story-GqRbmrlCmDXY4NKOHBCAiN.html |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=15 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> | demographics1_title2 = Others | demographics1_info2 = Bengali | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 494 776 | area_code = 91 7844 | area_code_type = Telephone code | registration_plate = CG 19 | blank1_name_sec1 = Sex ratio | blank1_info_sec1 = 991 ♂/900♀ | website = | footnotes = | official_name = }}
'''Pakhanjur''', also known as '''Pakhanjore''', is a town, nagar panchayat, and the headquarters of the eponymous tehsil in the Kanker District of Chhattisgarh State in India.<ref name="CensusGov2011"/> According to the 2011 Census of India, it is the second largest town in the district by population, only second to the district headquarters Kanker. It is located {{convert|120|km|abbr=on}} south-west of Kanker and {{convert|47|km|abbr=on}} west of the block headquarters Koyalibeda.<ref>{{cite book |title=Layout of Koyelibeda Block |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060326/asp/frontpage/story_6016109.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908142418/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060326/asp/frontpage/story_6016109.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2006 |access-date=25 February 2015}}</ref>
==Name== The name of the town is written as "पखांजूर" in Devanagari script,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Ashish Kumar |title=Kanker: पखांजूर सीएएफ कैंप में आधी रात अचानक होने लगी फायरिंग इधर-उधर भागने लगे जवान मचा हड़कंप |url=https://www.naidunia.com/chhattisgarh/kanker-caf-jawan-fired-30-rounds-in-air-inside-camp-late-at-night-in-pankhjur-kanker-8198868 |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Nai Dunia |date=17 July 2023 |language=hi}}</ref> however it is transliterated as ''Pakhanjur''<ref>{{cite news |title=Chhattisgarh: Food inspector, 2 more, booked over emptying of reservoir to find lost phone |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/chhattisgarh-food-inspector-2-more-booked-over-emptying-of-reservoir-to-find-lost-phone20230601024558/ |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=ANI News |date=1 June 2023}}</ref> and ''Pakhanjore''<ref>{{cite news |title=Chhattisgarh: 5 of family killed in house wall collapse in Kanker |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/chhattisgarh-5-of-family-killed-in-house-wall-collapse-in-kanker/articleshow/93570241.cms |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=The Economic Times |agency=PTI |date=15 August 2022}}</ref> in English, the former notably supported by Indian Census sources<ref>{{cite web |title=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables |website=Census of India |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="Pakhanjur_religion">{{cite web |title=C-01: Population by religious community |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11368/download/14481/DDW22C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=Census of India |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref> and the latter by Dandakaranya Project report submitted to Rajya Sabha in August 1974.<ref name="Report_1974"/>
== History == During the pre-independence era, the entire area covered by the Pakhanjur tehsil today along with the Bande and Koyalibeda tehsils and parts of Abujhmarh, formed the erstwhile Paralkot jagir. In 1825, the region became the theatre of a tribal uprising led by Gaind Singh, a tribal leader and the zamindar of Paralkot, against the British Raj. Popularly known as the Paralkot Rebellion, the uprising saw the rebels fight against the exploitation and injustices meted out to the natives by the foreign powers. It ended with the capture and execution by hanging of the revered tribal leader on 20 January 1825. Subsequently, he came to be honoured as the first martyr of Chhattisgarh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Man Gen Singh |url=http://kanker.nic.in/grtmen.html |access-date=25 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070545/http://kanker.nic.in/grtmen.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Bhupendra |title=आजादी के लिए 195 साल पहले फांसी पर चढ़े थे छत्तीसगढ़ के पहले शहीद परलकोट के जमींदार गैंदसिंह - First martyr of Chhattisgarh Zamindar Gaind Singh of Chhattisgarh was hanged for independence 195 years ago |url=https://www.jagran.com/news/national-first-martyr-of-chhattisgarh-zamindar-gaind-singh-of-chhattisgarh-was-hanged-for-independence-195-years-ago-20262231.html |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=Jagran |date=11 May 2020 |language=hi}}</ref>
In 1958, the Pakhanjur Colony that forms the heart of the town, was established along with the neighbouring settlements of Kapsi and Bande under the Dandakaranya Project.<ref name="Report_1974">{{cite book|url=http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/assets/media_files/000/011/439/11439.pdf|title=Official Name Pakhanjore|pages=1|access-date=11 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214185739/http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/assets/media_files/000/011/439/11439.pdf |archive-date=14 February 2021}}</ref>
=== Dandakaranya project === {{main|Dandakaranya Project}} The Indian government created the Dandakaranya Development Authority in 1958 to assist refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). It constructed the Bhaskel Dam and Paralkot reservoir (Kherkatta Dam), woodworking centers at Jagdalpur, Boregaon, and Umerkote, and roads and railways in the refugee resettlement areas, including the Balangir-Kozilum railway project. A factory that mainly produces aircraft engines is located at Sunabeda. The National Mineral Development Corporation works iron ore at Bailadila. Important towns are Jagdalpur, Bhawanipatna, and Koraput. The project was known as the Dandakaranya Project.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10140572.pdf|title=Design report of Paralkote|year=1971|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref>
A large number of people from East Pakistan, which is now Bangladesh were settled at the newly formed 133 settlements, each designated as a Paralkot Village (PV) and numbered from PV 1 to PV 133, in areas of Kapsi, Pakhanjur and Bande. These people suffered heavy losses leaving hundreds of acres of agricultural fields and adjusted with very small land for survival.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://yojana.gov.in/CMS/(S(d3srdvmjh2vecd45vrtwqa55))/pdf/Yojana/English/1965/Jul_Vol09_No14.pdf |title=Villages Established |access-date=25 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225133145/http://yojana.gov.in/CMS/%28S%28d3srdvmjh2vecd45vrtwqa55%29%29/pdf/Yojana/English/1965/Jul_Vol09_No14.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Geography== Pakhanjur tehsil is surrounded by the Durgukondal tehsil and Mohla Manpur district to the north, Koyalibeda tehsil to the east, Bande tehsil to the south and the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra to the west.
=== Deforestation === People are suffering a lot because of deforestation here. Every year lakhs of trees are cut down for industrial purpose. The famous green belt is slowly turning into an orange area which is dangerous. New programs need to be initiated to promote greenery and planting of trees.<ref>{{cite news |title=तुंहर दुआर योजना:वन विभाग ने लोगों को बांटे फलदार पौधे |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/badgaon/news/forest-department-distributed-fruitful-plants-to-people-127453065.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi |date=15 January 2022 |access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref>
== Demographics == As of the 2011 Indian Census, Pakhanjur nagar panchayat had a population of 10,201, consisting of 5,370 males and 4,831 females. The population of children aged 0–6 was 1,207; 11.83% of the population. The male:female sex ratio is 900, lower than the state average of 991. The child sex ratio in Pakhanjur is around 904 compared to the state average of 969. The effective literacy rate of people seven years and above is 86.86%; the male literacy is around 91.64% and the female literacy rate is 81.54%. There were 2,332 households. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes populations were 508 and 1,201 respectively.<ref name="CensusGov2011">{{cite web |title=Census 2011 - Pakhanjur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=501393 |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref>
===Religion=== {{Bar box |title=Religion in Pakhanjur town (2011 census)<ref name="Pakhanjur_religion"/> |titlebar=#ddd |left1=Religion |right1=Percent |float=right |bars= {{bar percent|Hinduism|DarkOrange|97.35}} {{bar percent|Christianity|Blue|0.81}} {{bar percent|Sikhism|Yellow|0.64}} {{bar percent|Islam|Green|0.61}} {{bar percent|Others|Black|0.59}}}}
The overwhelming majority of the population of Pakhanjur is Hindu, with Christians, Sikhs and Muslims having small populations.<ref name="Pakhanjur_religion" />
==Government and politics== ===Administration=== [[File:Kherkatta Dam.JPG|thumb|Kherkatta Reservoir near Kapsi]]The sub-district code of Pakhanjur tehsil is 03354 and the total number of villages is 299.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pakhanjore code|url=https://allindiafacts.com/places/chhattisgarh/uttar-bastar-kanker/pakhanjur.html|access-date=2 January 2020|website=}}</ref>
=== Post office === The pin-code of Pakhanjur is 494776, and the sub post office is Pakhanjur Camp.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pincode|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/pincode/india/chattisgarh/kanker/pakhanjore-camp.html|access-date=25 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=http://pincodezip.in/pdfgen/chattisgarh/kanker/bastar/pakhanjore-camp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022226/http://pincodezip.in/pdfgen/chattisgarh/kanker/bastar/pakhanjore-camp|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 November 2017|title=Pakhanjore camp post office|year=2017|pages=1|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref>
=== Healthcare === ==== Hospitals ==== * Government Civil Hospital Pakhanjore<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakhanjore Hospital|url=http://www.dbtech.in/event.php?action=dbtechevents&&id=169|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100741/http://www.dbtech.in/event.php?action=dbtechevents&&id=169|archive-date=2 April 2015|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> * Veterinary Hospital Pakhanjore<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://cg.nic.in/healthrsby/RSBY_Documents/PrivateHospital.pdf|title=Vandana Hospital|publisher=RSBY|page=23}}</ref>
== Economy == The Hahaladdi Iron Ore Deposit project site is connected through State highway SH-6.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Online/TOR/0_0_07_Jul_2015_1811152801Annexure-BriefSummary.pdf|title=Hahaladdi Iron Ore Deposit|pages=1|access-date=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714160842/http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Online/TOR/0_0_07_Jul_2015_1811152801Annexure-BriefSummary.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
There is no major industrial activity in Pakhanjur tehsil. Small-scale industries include a handful of rice mills and stone crusher plants. Majority of the population and hence the economy is primarily dependent on agriculture.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
Pakhanjur town has two prominent bazaars namely, the old market and the new market, as the trade and commerce centres. Kapsi and Bande are the other important bazaars of the tehsil.<ref>{{cite news |title=लॉकडॉउन:पखांजूर, कापसी और बांदे में पूर्ण तालाबंदी का दिखा असर |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/pankhanjur/news/full-lockout-effect-in-pakhanjur-kapasi-and-bande-127285479.html |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=Dainik Bhaskar}}</ref>
== Attractions == thumb|300px|Kali Mandir, Pakhanjur thumb|300px|Shiv Mandir, Pakhanjur * Kherkatta Reservoir which is situated near Kapsi.<ref>{{cite web |last=Water source |first=of farmers |date=31 March 2021 |title=Pakhanjore Dam |url=https://morelifechanger.in/land-of-energy-for-pakhanjore/.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5 |access-date=31 March 2021 |website=More life changer}}</ref> * Nara Narayan Mela or Pakhanjur Mela<ref>{{cite web|title=News in Naiduniya|date=15 January 2015|url=https://www.naidunia.com/chhattisgarh/kanker-paralkot-narnarayan-mela-pakhanjur-news-287133|access-date=11 April 2015}}</ref> * Nara Narayana Sevashram * Kali Mandir * Shiv Mandir * Satsang Vihar, Shri Shri Thakur Anukulchandra Temple, situated in the heart of Pakhanjur * Ram Vatika * Satyanand Nagar
==Transport== ===Roadways=== Pakhanjur is situated on Chhattisgarh State Highway 25 and is only connected by road from Durg, Raipur, Kanker, Dalli Rajhara, Bhanupratappur, Jagdalpur, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur. Its distance is {{convert|250|km|abbr=on}} from the state capital Raipur.
===Railways=== Railway services are non-existent in Pakhanjur. The nearest major railway station is Durg Jn. (DURG) on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line {{convert|190|km|abbr=on}} from Pakhanjur. The nearest local railway station is Keoti (KETI) on the Dalli Rajhara–Jagdalpur line {{convert|62|km|abbr=on}} away.
There has been demands from various quarters to construct the proposed Gadchiroli-Bhanupratappur rail line via Durgukondal, Kapsi and Pakhanjur instead of via Manpur.<ref name="The Times of India">{{Cite news |date=10 August 2022 |title=Extension of railway line to connect Kanker with Maharashtra |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/extension-of-rly-line-to-connect-kanker-with-maha/articleshow/93466771.cms |access-date=20 July 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=रेलवे लाइन बनने पर सीधे महाराष्ट्र से जुड़ जाएगा कांकेर:नक्सल प्रभावित भानुप्रतापपुर गढ़चिरौली रेल लाइन सर्वे के लिए 3.37 करोड़ रुपए मंजूर |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/kanker/news/rs-337-crore-approved-for-naxal-affected-bhanupratappur-gadchiroli-rail-line-survey-130166190.html |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Danik Bhaskar |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=केंद्रीय बजट में प्रोजेक्ट:भानुप्रतापपुर-गढ़चिरौली तक 133 किमी रेल लाइन बिछेगी |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/balod/news/133-km-rail-line-will-be-laid-till-bhanupratappur-gadchiroli-130876415.html |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi}}</ref> This proposed line when completed, would serve as an alternative route between Nagpur and Vishakhapatnam — one of the busiest freight corridors in the country — by linking the Nagpur-Wadsa-Gadchiroli line to the Bhanupratappur-Jagdalpur-Vishakhapatnam line. If the demands are met, it would provide a much needed impetus to the development of this area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SECR exploring new route to Southern India via Gadchiroli, orders final location survey |url=https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2022/9/4/SECR-exploring-new-route-to-Southern-India-via-Gadchiroli-orders-final-location-survey.html |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=www.thehitavada.com |date=4 September 2022}}</ref>
In May 2022, the Ministry of Railways (India) provided in-principle approval for the survey of this line. It subsequently allocated a budget of {{INRConvert|3.37|c}} for the survey, though the route and deadline were yet undecided.<ref name="The Times of India"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=SECR exploring new route to Southern India via Gadchiroli, orders final location survey |url=https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2022/9/4/SECR-exploring-new-route-to-Southern-India-via-Gadchiroli-orders-final-location-survey.html |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=www.thehitavada.com |language=en}}</ref> Given the importance of this project, the South Eastern Central Railway zone fast-tracked the regulatory process and in August of the same year floated tenders for the final location survey and preparation of the Detailed Project Report.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 August 2022 |title=New rly line cutting jumbo route in offing |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nagpur/new-rly-line-cutting-jumbo-route-in-offing/articleshow/93788978.cms |access-date=20 July 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Integrated Budgetary Financial Figures for South East Central Railway |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/Budget_2023-24/INTEGRATED_BOOK_2023-24/SECR_integraged_2023-24.pdf |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Indian Railways}}</ref> The survey was commissioned soon after.
===Airports=== Pakhanjur's nearest commercial airport with regular scheduled flights is Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur {{convert|250|km|abbr=on}} away.
== Education == * Industrial Training Institute (ITI)<ref>{{cite web |title=Industrial Training Institute (ITI) |url=http://www.punjabcolleges.com/62120-indiacolleges-Industrial-Training-Institute-(ITI)-Pakhanjur/ |access-date=25 February 2015 |archive-date=25 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225155227/http://www.punjabcolleges.com/62120-indiacolleges-Industrial-Training-Institute-(ITI)-Pakhanjur/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Govt. Veer Gaind Singh College Pakhanjore<ref>{{cite web|title=Govt. Veer Gaind Singh College Pakhanjore|url=http://highereducation.cg.gov.in/Kanker.htm|accessdate=25 February 2015|archive-date=25 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225151804/http://highereducation.cg.gov.in/Kanker.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Sports == The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium Pakhanjur is famous for football and cricket tournaments.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakhanjur stadium|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Pakhanjur+Old+Market+Stadium/@20.038132,80.625508,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x3a2dcd79143e9c8f:0x3106d006c57c3594|access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=पखांजूर का स्टेडियम फिर से होगा "नेताजी" के नाम पर, भाजपा के शासनकाल में कर दिया गया था "मुखर्जी" के नाम |url=https://theruralpress.in/2022/06/04/pakhanjurs-stadium-will-again-be-in-the-name-of-netaji/ |access-date=25 July 2023 |website=The Rural Press |date=4 June 2022 |language=hi}}</ref> The stadium hosts annual celebrations on Independence Day (15 August) and Republic Day (26 January). All cultural and extracurricular activities are performed in the stadium and inter-school competitions are organised between them.
== See also == * List of cities in Chhattisgarh by population
==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} Category:Kanker district Category:Cities and towns in Kanker district Category:Tehsils of Chhattisgarh