Curchorem

Curchorem
Town
Curchorem Location of Curchorem in Goa
Coordinates: 15°15′37″N 74°06′30″E / 15.26028°N 74.10833°ECoordinates: 15°15′37″N 74°06′30″E / 15.26028°N 74.10833°E
Country	India
State	Goa
District	South Goa
Sub-district	Quepem
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	21,398
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	403706

Curchorem (Kudchade) is a town and municipal council in the South Goa district of Goa, and is part of Quepem Taluka. Curchorem and Sanvordem are twin towns on either side of the Zuari River. The town is self-sufficient and has a number of hospitals (including a Government Primary Health Centre), schools, a police station, banks, ATMs, a railway station, good road links, a market, places of worship, restaurants, a play ground, an electricity station and a theatre.

Geography

Curchorem is located at 15°15′37″N 74°06′30″E / 15.26028°N 74.10833°E and has an average elevation of 13 metres (43 ft).^[1] The confluence of Uguem and Guleli rivers at Sanguem or Sangam is known as Zuari river. It runs north west up to sanvordem. Further it runs up to the west till KUSHAWATI RIVER and joins at XELVONA. Then again it changes its direction to the north till it reaches Panchwadi and further flows up to Rachol. again flows up to north to Borim and further north-west up to Racaim, Durbhat and finally to the Arabian Sea where it joins to Mormugao. It covers 67 kilometers in the goa district.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census,^[2] Curchorem Cacora had a population of 21,398. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. Curchorem Cacora had an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 79% and female literacy 68%. 12% of the population was under 7 years of age.

Administration

The town is divided to wards like Pontemol, Morailem, Bansai, Cariamoddi, Shirfod, Bepquegal, Madhegal, Cacora, Bansai, Dabhamoll, Kamral, Khamamoll,Baga-Curchorem and Kakkumoddi. There is an elected member from each ward in the municipality. The members elect a municipal chairperson.

The town also sends a member to the Goa Legislative Assembly and in the Lok Sabha, is a part of the South Goa constituency. The present MLA is Nilesh Cabral of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Culture

Curchorem has many places of worship namely Marutigad, Ganpati temple, Sateri temple, Purushmharu temple, Mahadev temple, Guardian Angel Church and the Jama Masjid. The town hosts a Shigmotsav festival early in the calendar year and recently also hosted the Carnival. The town also attracts devotees for the Zatras.

The State of the art auditorium called as RAVINDRA BHAVAN, is developed to promote art and culture around the area. Regular tiatr shows and Nataks are held here.

Education

The town hosts some of the good educational schools in Goa. The prominent ones being The New Educational High School, Sarvodaya Educational Society, Guardian Angel High School, Smt C T Naik High School, Our Lady of Perpetual Succor Convent School, Shree Saraswati Prathamik Marathi Vidhyalaya, Fr.Agnelo Primary School and the newly introduced Cambridge School.

The two schools for Higher Secondary Education are Guardian Angel Higher Secondary School and Smt. C.T.Naik Higher Secondary School.

The town also has a Hotel Management School managed by the same management that runs the Guardian Angel High School. Also housed is an ITI (Industrial Training Institute) located in Cacora. There is also a college which imparts Polytechnic Diploma which is well known as Government Polytechnic, Curchorem (GPC) which offers courses in various disciplines.

Also Sanjay School for Special Children is run in Pontemol. Fr.Agnelo School of Music and Performing Arts is run by Pilar Fathers which caters the musical study needs of the students of the area.

The Pilar Fathers have played a vital role in promoting education in this area. Guardian Angel educational Complex provides education to more than 3000 students annually from nursery education to Degree Course in Hotel Management.

Economy(Early trade & commerce)

Zuari river as it flows down from the hills divides this village into two: the northern part is called Sanvordem and southern as CURCHOREM. Being navigable. this river is largely responsible to the prosperity of the town, where small vessels with passengers, goods and merchandise touched the small dock at khamamoll from panaji, Old Goa etc. Also small wooden rafters, salts, vegetables etc. touched this small dock.

The railway line from marmagoa to londa passing through curchorem, kalay, Collem was laid in the year 1880 which led to the economic prosperity of this place. Tome Caetano de Costa from aldona, Bardez, a Catholic Carpenter was entrusted with laying of the railway line and construction of Sanvordem railway station.One of the main contractor of the rail line from marmagoa to collem was Mr. Cosme Damiao Noronha and his sub contractor was Tome Caetano de Costa. Curchorem-Sanvordem was covered with thick forests and wild animals so uch that people used to thinkthat Sanvordem forms an outer limit of Goa.

The Portuguese govt. asked the British govt. to start the rail Way LINE. This was the most difficult task as hills had to be cut down, tunnels dug and thick forest to be cleared.

The major economic activity is that of mining in this region. Many mining companies ply their trucks via Curchorem. The ore reserves around this area are home to major business houses of Goa like Sesa Goa (Renamed Sesa Sterlite Ltd), Dempo(Now Sesa Resources Ltd), Timblo, Salgaocar, Fomentos Minescape, Agencia Mineral Maritima,Agarwal, Bandekars, etc. Employment of majority of the population living in this town are directly or indirectly related to the Mining Industry.

The town has an industrial estate called the Kakoda Industrial Estate. It is home to many industries.

Environmental issues

The town is a hub of the mining industry in South Goa. The railway station is a major loading point for the ores from nearby mines. This ore is transported using trucks which ply on the town roads for a major part of the day leading to dust and noise pollution, and major traffic jams. This has led to some civic tension in the town. Plans for a bypass are underway.

Notable people

Goan footballer Alvito D'Cunha studied and lived here.

See also

References

1. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Curchorem
2. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.