Haldia

Haldia is a city and a municipality in Purba Medinipur in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a major riverport and industrial belt located approximately 125 kilometres southwest of Calcutta near the mouth of the Hooghly River, one of the distributaries of the Ganges.

Haldia is being developed as a major trade port for Calcutta (Kolkata), intended mainly for bulk cargoes. The industrial city has several major factories, including South Asian Petrochemicals Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Exide, Shaw Wallace, Tata Chemicals, Haldia Petrochemicals and Hindustan Lever, in addition to various light industries. The port has attracted Major International Petrochemicals Companies, like Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). Mitsubishi Chemicals has the Second Largest Terephthalic Acid Producing Plant in Haldia.^[1]

The Haldia Township is bordered by the Haldi River an offshoot of the Ganges River. The riverside in Haldia is a favorite destination for tourists. A catamaran service used to operate from Kolkata to Haldia, but was withdrawn due to its high price and unpopularity among tourists.

Haldia is also a base of Indian Coast Guard. Indian coast guard DHQ 8 (Headquarters for West Bengal) is located at haldia. There is a hoverport to house four of the eighteen hovercrafts belonging to the Indian Coast Guard. Indian coast guard also have pantoon jetty to berth fleet of ships. Presently two fast petrol vessels, one inshore petrol vessels, and one small craft is based at Haldia. However basing of these vessels at Haldia need to be evaluated in terms of usefulness owing to the location and time required to reach sea from Haldia. It is one of the major ports in India.

Geography

Haldia is located at 22°02′N 88°04′E / 22.03°N 88.06°E / 22.03; 88.06.^[2] It has an average elevation of 8 metres (26 ft).

Demographics

As of 2011 census, Haldia had a population of 200,762, out of which 104,852 were males and 95,910 were females. The 0–6 years population was 21,122. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 89.06 per cent.^[3]

As of 2001 India census, Haldia had a population of 170,695. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. In Haldia, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.^[4]

Police stations

Haldia police station has jurisdiction over part of Haldia municipality. Haldia police station covers an area of 98 km² with a population of 65,000. Haldia police station is located in Chinranjibpur.^[5][6]

Bhabanipur police station has jurisdiction over part of Haldia municipality. Bhabanipur police station covers an area of 115 km² with a population of 124,906. Haldia police station is located in Bhabanipur, Haldia.^[7][8]

Climate

Haldia has a typical moderate climate with winter temperatures ranging from a low of around 7 degrees Celsius to a high of 22 degrees Celsius. Summers can be very hot and humid. Usual summer temperatures in May, the hottest month range from a low of 24 degrees to highs around 39 degrees. Although summers are hot and humid, Kalbaishakhis provide a relief to the people, albeit killing some in the process. Rainfall is heavy during monsoons, with an average rainfall of 144 inches and the rainy months are between May and September.

Transportation

Haldia is connected to Kolkata by both bus and train. Recent efforts have seen introduction of new air-conditioned buses which takes less than three hours from the place to Kolkata. Haldia is also connected via the 1620 km long inland waterway, National Waterway 1 that runs from Allahabad across Ganges, Bhagirathi and Hooghly river system to Haldia (Sagar).

Education

The main schools are St. Xavier's High School (CBSE), The Assembly of God Church School (ICSE & ISC),Vivekananda Mission(ICSE), Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (CBSE),Haldia Govt. Sponsored X Class Secondary School (H.S),Haldia Govt. Spon. Vivekanada Vidyabhawan (WBBSE), Chakdwipa High School Govt. Spon. (WBBSE),Manoharpur High School (WBBSE),Poura Path Bhavan (WBBSE), S.R.K Public School New Colony Durgachak, Kendriya Vidyalaya,Debhog Shyamacharan Milan Vidyapith, Haldia High School, Labanya Prava Balika Vidyalaya, Saradamoni Balika Vidyalya, Nibedita High School, Joynagar High School, Deulpota High School,Coast Guard KG School at Azad Hind Nagar.

Colleges include Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia Government College, Haldia Law College and Haldia Institute of Health Sciences, Global Institute of Science and Technology, Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Haldia Institute of Maritime Studies and Research , two hotel management colleges and a government college.

Haldia also has the "Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology" (CIPET) that caters to the need of plastic and polymer industries.

Sports

IFA (Indian Football Association) and TFA (Tata Football Academy), have been operating for years in the city to scout and promote football talent

A new project called Haldia International Sports City is also under construction.Brajanathchak

Sataku

The Japanese community of Haldia are mostly engineers and top executives at Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation’s (MCC) PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) plant in the city. The community have been living in the mini Japanese township called Sataku (Japantown) for many years. Sataku has many Japanese restaurants and a local Japanese news station. Japanese movies are shown in local theaters. Haldia is the only Indian city to have a Japantown.^[10]

References

External links

• Haldia travel guide from Wikivoyage