POLLACHI IN ITS REGIONAL SETTING
Spread over an area of 13.87 sq.km and at an average level of 292.5m above M.S.L. at the foot of Anaimalai Hills of Western Ghats 40km south of Coimbate lies Pollachi Town at 770 East Longitude and 10030’ North Latitude. The town functions as the Head Quarter of the Taluk in its own name. The town occupies a geographical central location amidst Coimbatore, Udumalaipet, Valparari, Dharapuram, Palladam and Palghat of Kerala. The town is traversed by important roads and railway lines. The State highway from Coimbatore to Dindigul passes through the central area of the town while five major district roads namely Dharapuram road, Palladam road, Kollamkode road, Palghat road and Anaimalai road coverage at the town. In fact, these arterials have become corridors of development. From Cochin, the town lies at a distance of 225km and from Chennai about 530km.
PHYSICAL FEATURE
Being at the foot of Anaimalai Hills, the town generally slopes down from Wards West to Wards East characterized locally with undulations. The town being at the foot hills and near the state border, all the forest products from the Anaimalai Hills and Kerala side pass through the town Pollachi has a rich hinterland and it is famous from time immemorial for its weekly Cattle Market and Daily market over 12ha. of land at the core of the town. The topography varies from 259m to 309m above MSL.
SOIL CONDITION
Being in continuation of the Western Ghats, the town under-lays red loamy and red sand soils. Gypsum in the nearby places is mined for industrial uses. The sub soil is hard enough to support fairly heavy structures.
CLIMATE
The area being at the foot of Western Ghats, enjoys a reasonable salubrious climate round the year. The temperature varies from 14.90 C to 37.00 C. Showers visit the area right from July, and the town receives on an average 90.7cm of rainfall annually being intensive during July to November. Cool breeze through the Palghat gaps keeps the climate pleasant throughout the year, and incidentally, cinema shooting is a regular affair in the town area throughout the year. Humidity is comparatively low and a fan will suffice to provide reasonable comfort.
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
The Population of the town has grown during the Century 1901-2001, almost 10 times from 8958 to 88303. The decadal growth rates have however been oscillating from a minimum of 1.62 during 1991-2001 to 86.18% during 1921-31, the next highest being 65.67% during 1941-51. While the highest rate during 1921-31 is ascribed to the advent of the railway line from Pollachi to Dindigul, the next highest during 1941-51 is said to be part of fast urbanization phenomenon all over the country. But the least of 1.62% during 1991-2001 does not find a convincing reason though conscious family planning drive and some out-migration due to stagnant state of town economy are said to be the causative factors. The declining growth trend in fact started from 1981-91 onwards, the growth rate being 5.66% during that decade, and the out-migration not only to the fast growing urban magnets. Coimbatore but also to the suburbs of Pollachi seemed to have caused the decline. The growth rate has been steep from 1941 to 1981 and remained stagnant since then.
WARD-WISE POPULATION AND DENSITY 2001
There are 36 electoral wards in the town ranging in area from 3ha (Ward3) to 340ha (Ward 9), and the population according to 2001 census varies from 875 in Ward 33 to 4519 in Ward 3. The density varies from 8.4 persons/ha in Ward 36 to as high as 1002 in Ward 31. In terms of Street lengths 680m in Ward 25 to 9925 in Ward 35. At town level, the density as per 2001 population works out to 63p/ha.
OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE: 1995-96
Occupational classification of workers for the town in 2001 census year is not published. However, according to inter censes period survey by the Municipality, the tertiary sector dominates with as much 69% of the main workers occupied in services covering trade and commerce, transport and communication and other services. The secondary sector follows the tertiary sector occupation but at a far off point being 25% of the main workforce, and the primary sector engaged only 7% of the main workers. At the town level, the participation ratio is 32.8% and this is the normal rate in urban sector.
| S. NO | OCCUPATION | WORKERS | %OF TOTAL WORKERS | % OF TOTAL POPULATION |
| 1 | Primary Sector
Agriculture Mining, Livestock, quarrying, etc. |
1392 125 |
6.18 0.55 |
2.02 0.18 |
| 2. | Secondary Sector
Household Industries Manufacturing other than Household industries Construction |
341 4310
884 |
1.51 19.14
3.92 |
0.49 6.27
1.28 |
| 3. | Tertiary Sector
Trade and Commerce Transport and Communication Other services |
7231 2809 5426 |
32.14 12.47 24.09 |
10.53 4.09 7.93 |
| TOTAL WORKERS | 22518 | 100 | 32.79 |
Source: Census of India 2001
LAND USE PATTERN
According to the block-wise field survey conducted during 1996 by the Town and Country Planning Department, of the total corporate area of 13.87 sq.km, tow-thirds remained under agricultural and vacant uses, and about one forth was under residential occupation. Industrial establishments covered 60ha accounting for 4% of the total area, whereas commercial and public/semi-public activities occupied 2% of the total area each.
Of the developed area of 470ha, however, the residential use occupied a little more than two thirds, whereas the industrial use 13%, Commercial and public/semi-public uses 6% each.
| S. No | Land use | Extent in hectares | % of developed area | % of total area |
| 1 | Residential | 320 | 68 | 23 |
| 2. | Commercial | 27 | 6 | 2 |
| 3. | Industrial | 60 | 13.1 | 4.25 |
| 4. | Educational | 24 | 5 | 1.75 |
| 5. | Public & semi public | 28 | 6 | 2 |
| 6. | Agriculture & vacant | 917 | – | 67 |
| TOTAL | 1386 | – | 100 |
Source: Review of Master Plan for Pollachi, Local Planning area, DT&CP, Coimbatore-Nilgiries Region.
COMMERCIAL USE
The concentration of development is around the junction of the radial roads where mainly commercial and industrial establishments have come up rather in a controlled manner. The commercial center has come-up at the core of the town. Commercial and shopping activities have come-up close to the market and the railway station. The main commercial activity is along the Cochin and Dindigul roads.
Commercial use includes shopping, banking institutions, markets, warehouses and cinema theatres. These have come-up mainly around the weekly market at the core of the town and along Udumalpet road. The Gandhi weekly market over an area 30.33 acres is one of the largest markets in Tamil Nadu. Within the market, a daily wholesale vegetable market is located. Vegetables and coconuts are transported from this wholesale market to other states. Around 50 wholesale timber depots are located along the Udumalpet road near the town boundary. There are seven permanent cinema theatres with a total seating capacity of 6418. All the commercial establishments covered a total area of 27ha accounting for only 6% of the total developed area.
RESIDENTIAL USE
In Pollachi, the residential developments include Kottampatti and Vadugapalayam villages also. Residential development has come up intensively with congestion along south side of Udumalpet road. All along radial roads leading to the central area, the development of residences in intense. The residential use is in fact of two categories namely Primary Residential and Mixed Residential. About 320ha i.e.68% of the developed area of the town is under residential use.
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
Major industrial establishments are found outside the town limits. Industrial workers are mainly engaged in textile mils, cottage industries manufacturing matches, soap handloom and coir goods located near to the town boundary on Udumalpet road. There are as many as 65 small scale and service industries, of which the prominent ones are rice mills, oil mills, cotton gins, automobile workshops, printing press, saw mills etc.
Two important engineering industries namely Cheran Engineering Corporation and Anaimalai Body Building unit for Automobiles are located within the town limits, and they provide employment for about 900 workers. In all, within the town, 60ha of developed area i.e.13% has been occupied by industrial uses.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
As on 1996 there are 29 educational institutions including an Arts College within the town limits. These schools comprise 3 higher secondary schools, 2 high schools, 8 middle schools and 15 nursery/elementary schools. The schools have student strength of 15211 and teacher strength of 397. The Arts College includes student strength of 1163 and teacher strength of 66. About 24ha of land is under the educational institutions covering 5% of the developed area.
| S.No | Type of institution | Teachers Strength | Total Numbers | Strength |
| 1. | Nursery/Elementary School
Government Private |
88 22 |
12 3 |
2559 805 |
| 2. | Middle School
Government Private |
138 21 |
7 1 |
3624 817 |
| 3. | High School
Government Private |
28 13 |
1 1 |
861 487 |
| 4. | Higher Sec. Schools
Government Private |
187 – |
3 – |
6058 – |
| 5. | Higher Education
Arts College, Government aided |
66 |
1 |
1163 |
| TOTAL | 463 | 29 | 16374 |
MEDICARE
Hospitals, Medical and Public health institutions are located near the junction of the radial roads. A Government Hospital with a bed strength of 118, 37 private medical institutions with a total bed strength of 662, 4 maternity and child welfare centers with a total bed strength of 26 and 4 municipal run dispensaries, constitute the Medicare units in the town. In all, including the Hospital, there are 46 medical institutions both private and public with a total bed strength of 806.
| S.No | Classifications | Total Nos. | Ownership | Bed strength |
| 1. | General Hospital | 1 | Government | 118 |
| 2. | Dispensaries | 1 | Municipal | – |
| 3. | Ayurvedic | 1 | Municipal | – |
| 4. | Siddha | 2 | Municipal | – |
| 5. | Maternity & child welfare center | 4 | Municipal | 26 |
| 6. | Others
Clinics& Poly clinics Hospitals Nursing Homes |
22 7 8 |
Private Private Private |
330 125 207 |
| TOTAL | 46 | — | 806 |
NON-URBAN USE
The buildup area of the town is surrounded by vast stretches of agricultural uses. Most of the area within the town is dry and irrigation is through wells. Coconut groves have come-up where ground water is available. Two thirds of the town area is under agricultural use.
URBAN LAND VALUES
Of the 13.87 sq.km of the town area, nearly 87% of the lands are under private ownership. The Municipality owns 6% of the land while the Government owns 7% of the land.
The land value fluctuates according to its use and location. The land value varies from Rs.3.71 lakhs/ha to Rs.24.71 lakhs/ha. There are 5 development wards and the values as per 1996 survey are detailed
| S.No | Ward No | Land values in Rs.Lakhs/Ha | |
| Minimum | Maximum | ||
| 1. | I | 4.95 | 8.65 |
| 2. | II | 4.95 | 24.71 |
| 3. | III | 7.40 | 24.71 |
| 4. | IV | 3.71 | 14.83 |
| 5. | V | 9.88 | 19.78 |
Incidentally these values as per Government guidelines are said to be more than the market values.
LITERACY RATE
The literacy rate of Pollachi town was 86.25% in 2001, which of course did not include children upto the age of 6 years as against previous census years. The sex ratio was 992 in 2001 in the town.
| S.No | Census year | Population | Pollachi (%) | Tamil Nadu (%) |
| 1. | 1901 | 8958 | — | — |
| 2. | 1911 | 10909 | 21.78 | 14.80 |
| 3. | 1921 | 11875 | 08.86 | 09.60 |
| 4. | 1931 | 22112 | 86.18 | 23.50 |
| 5. | 1941 | 25198 | 13.96 | 23.80 |
| 6. | 1951 | 41744 | 65.67 | 21.56 |
| 7. | 1961 | 54369 | 30.26 | 21.90 |
| 8. | 1971 | 68655 | 26.27 | 38.89 |
| 9. | 1981 | 82354 | 19.95 | 33.33 |
| 10. | 1991 | 87012 | 05.60 | — |
| 11. | 2001 | 88303 | 01.62 | — |
Source: Census of India 2001
COMMUNICATION
There are one Post and Telegraph Office, 10 Post Offices which cater to the needs of the town.
RECREATION
There are only 2 Municipal Parks maintained by the Municipal Council, Kandasamy Chettiar Municipal Park town extending over an area of 3 acres and 35553 sq.ft. is situated in the heart of the town. Another park namely Vadugapalayam Municipal Park is situated in an extent of 29472 sq.ft. these two parks have been notified under Parks, Play fields and open spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act, 1959 in G.O.Ms.No.1125 dated 23.6.1965. The town is not provided with any major public playground at present.
TRANSPORT
Pollachi is well connected with Coimbatore, the District Head quarters and other nearby and far off urban centers by Railway and Road Transport facilities. The State Highway, Coimbatore-Dindigul Road passes through the congested Central area of Pollachi. The Dharapuram Road, the Palladam Road, the Kollangode Road and Palghat Road and the Anaimalais Road are the major District Roads and all these roads radiate from the central area of the town. These roads have become the main corridors of development.
The Town planning schemes designed by the department of Town and Country Planning and executed by the Municipality have provided 24m wide by_pass road linking up the major District roads and State Highways road, to reduce the traffic congestion at the core of the town and at the Central part of the town.
The total length of the roads, streets within the municipal limit is 93.369 Kms. consisting of 5.265 Kms. of cement concrete roads, 56.362 Kms. of Tar roads, 2.054 Kms of BT roads and 20.584 Kms. of metalled and other type of roads. The rest 9.104 Kms. are Highways and are maintained by the State Highways and Rural works department. Pollachi is a Railway junction of Coimbatore-Dindigul Meter Gauge Line and Pollachi-Olavakode Meter Gauge Line. The station is located close to the weekly market, the congested part of the town. The nearest Airport to Pollachi is at Coimbatore which is about 40 Kms. away from the town. The main mode of mass transportation within and outside the town is the buses operated by the State Transport Corporation and private companies and the buses owned by the Govt. of Kerala. In all 89 buses are being operated by the Transport Corporation in Pollachi town. 50 buses are also operated by Private Companies. The Municipal Bus stand was constructed at Palghat road under IUDP funds.
Demographic Characteristics :
Population Growth Trends
The Population of Pollachi Town as per the 2001 Census was 88,303 (Male -44378, Female-43925) and the Town extends over an area of 13.87sq.km and includes three full revenue village namely Pollachi, Kottampatti and Vadugapalayam and a part of
Rate of Growth is 1.48 %
Population Growth
| Year | Population |
| 1901 | 8958 |
| 1911 | 10909 |
| 1921 | 11875 |
| 1931 | 22112 |
| 1941 | 25198 |
| 1951 | 41744 |
| 1961 | 54369 |
| 1971 | 68655 |
| 1981 | 82357 |
| 1991 | 87012 |
| 2001 | 88303 |
Density :
| Population Density | ||||||
|
ECONIMIC BASE
The economy of the town is concentrated around the coconut trade.