06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

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RATNAGIRl- SINDlillDURG REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD
MAP-2 Proposed marine park: at Malvan
The literacy rate in males is 90.2% and in females
it is 71.67%.The ranking of Sindhudurg district on
the basis of population in Maharashtra is on
number 33 out of 35 district; the no. 1 district with
highest population being Mumbai. On the basis of
sex ratio this ranking is just reverse with
Sindhudurg district at no. 2 and Mumbai at no. 35
(with 774 females/IOOOmales).
Table 2 gives detailed information on population of
Malvan Tahsil.
Table 2 : Urban and Rural Populations of
Malvan Tahsil
Total Population
Sex Ratio
Urban Rural
18675
9499males
9176females
Source : Provisional Popu/aUon Jbtals
MalJarastra 2001 Census
97416
46278males
51138females
Map 3 gives Tahsil wise population density where
Malvan comes under the range of 175-200/sq. km.
in 1991 and 200-250/sq. km. in 2001. Map 4 gives
the change in sex ratio in Maharashtra where
Sindhudurg district falls in the highest range of
decrease in ratio.
Malvan is a historical place. It is known for a fort
built on huge rocky island in the Arabian sea just
2 km. inside from the Malvan beach. The fort is
known as "Sindhudurg" meaning "a fort in the
sea". The district is named after the fort. This fort
65
REGIONAL PLAN
RATNAGIRI-SINDHUDUIW UF:SOURCE REGION
ECG-DEY. STRATEGY
~ MARINE PARK (PROPOSED)
._., ATMALVAN
l' i CORE ZONE
LEGEND
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NOT 10 SCAL£
Malvan
has become tourist's attraction. People wonder at
the structure of the fort. It was built in 1664by the
Great Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The island on
which this is built was called 'Kurate'. The area
covered by the fort is 44 acres. There are huge
rocks all around the fort. It is recorded that, to
built this fort there were 500 stone workers (locally
called Patharwat), 200 iron smith, 3000 labour and
hundreds of skilled hands working continuously
for 3 years. And there were 5000 soldiers (Mavale)
offering protection to the workers.
There is a wall around the fort, which measures 3
km. in length, 10m in height and 2-4 m in width. It
is said that lead had been used in cementing the
footing layers (plinth). The entrance is skillfully
planned, which is not easily visible even after
reaching the fort. There are small boats from
Malvan to the fort.
IV. Biodiversity and Conservation Values
The Biodiversity values are concerned with the
importance of sites with respect to
Preservativeness, Uniqueness, Naturalness,
Diversity or Richness, Support functions and
Potential values of the site. These values for
Malvan site are applied with respect to flora and
fauna.
The tahsil has total four estuaries, which support
mangrove vegetation. It is the best sites for
mangroves along the west coast of Maharashtra.