# Singrauli district

Singrauli district (Hindi pronunciation:) is one of the districts in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a significant hub for energy production due to its vast coal reserves and power plants, earning it the title "Energy Capital of India."
Historically ruled by local Maharajas until 1947, the district underwent major transformation in the mid-20th century with the construction of the Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar dam and the discovery of rich coal deposits. The district has a diverse population, predominantly Hindu, with significant Scheduled Castes and Tribes.

## History

Previously, Singrauli was ruled by the Maharajas of the Singrauli State until the monarchy was abolished in 1947. The district's headquarters is located at Waidhan, and it was once the largest district in the Bagelkhand Division of Vindhya Pradesh.
In the mid-20th century, significant changes occurred as a large dam was constructed on the River Rihand. This dam, known as Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962. The discovery of rich coal deposits spanning 2,200 km$^2$ in Madhya Pradesh (eastern Sidhi district) and Uttar Pradesh (southern Sonebhadra district) near this artificial lake positioned Singrauli as a major electricity-generating region.
Singrauli is also home to ancient rock-cut caves, created between the 7th and 8th centuries AD. Located 32 km from Waidhan in Mada tehsil, these caves include notable sites such as Vivah Mada, Ganesh Mada, Shankar Mada, Jaljalia, and Ravan Mada.
In addition to these caves, Singrauli features painted rock shelters, such as those at Ranimachi, Dholagiri, and Goura Pahad, situated in Chitrangi tehsil. These shelters date back to the Mesolithic age, characterized by microlithic tool cultures, and showcase early examples of Indian art made with red ochre.
Despite its cultural and economic significance, Singrauli faces challenges such as pollution threatening its historical sites. Additionally, the district struggles with poor road connectivity and inadequate transportation services, issues that have persisted for years without resolution.

## Geography

The Singrauli district covers an area of 5,672 square kilometres (2,190 sq mi).

## Divisions

The Singrauli district comprises three tehsils, namely, Singrauli, Deosar and Chitrangi Vidhan Sabha. Since then, two more tehsils have been added to this district: Mada and Sarai.

## Politics

There are three Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha constituencies in the Singrauli district, namely, Chitrangi, Singrauli and Deosar. All of these are part of Sidhi Lok Sabha constituency.

## Demographics

Religions in Singrauli district (2011) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 94.97% | 94.97% |
| Islam | Islam | 3.95% | 3.95% |
| Other (tribal religion) | Other (tribal religion) | 0.52% | 0.52% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.56% | 0.56% |
According to the 2011 census of India, Singrauli district has a population of 1,178,273, roughly equal to the nation of Timor-Leste or the US state of Rhode Island. This gives it a ranking of 402nd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 208 inhabitants per square kilometre (540/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 28.03%. Singrauli has a sex ratio of 916 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 62.36%. 19.25% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Tribes made up 12.79% and 32.59% of the population respectively. The largest tribes are the Gonds, who are 50% of the tribal population, and Kols, 16% of the tribal population.
Languages of Sidhi district (2011)
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 89.59% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 4.49% Bagheli, and 1.64% Gondi as their first language.

## Education

Singrauli district is home Veena Vandini School, a unique ambidextrous school in Budhela where students are taught to write simultaneously with both hands. The school was created by a former Army soldier Shri V.P. Sharma in July 1999.

## Economy

Singrauli is also known as Energy Capital of India. The Rihand Dam was built in 1961 across the Rihand River at Pipri in the neighbouring district of Sonbhadra, in Uttar Pradesh. Later, rich coal deposits spread over an area of 2,200 square kilometres (850 sq mi) across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were discovered close to the artificial lake, Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar formed by the Rihand Dam. That led to the transformation and development of the area.

### Coal mining and power

Northern Coalfields is the major business of the district. The headquarters of the company are at Singrauli. The company is a subsidiary of Coal India, which is the largest coal producing company in world.
The Singrauli Coalfield can be divided into two basins, viz. Moher sub-basin (312 km$^2$.) and Singrauli Main basin (1890 km$^2$.). The major part of the Moher sub-basin lies in the Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh and a small part lies in the Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. Singrauli main basin lies in the western part of the coalfield and is largely unexplored. The present coal mining activities and future blocks are concentrated in Moher sub-basin. Lignite is the form of coal excavated from these coal mines. These coal mines are a hub for the Heavy Earth Moving Machines (HEMM).
The exploration carried out by GSI/NCDC/CMPDI has proved abundant resource of power grade coal in the area. This in conjunction with easy water resource from Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar makes this region an ideal location for high capacity pithead power plants. The coal supplies from NCL has made it possible to produce more than 11000 MW of electricity from pithead power plants of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), The region is now called the Energy Capital of India. The ultimate capacity of power generation of these power plants is 13295 MW and NCL is fully prepared to meet the increased demand of coal for the purpose. In addition, NCL supplies coal to power plants of Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam, Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) and Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited.

## Industries

All major companies operating in Singrauli are giants of Indian energy industry. The operations of companies include mining of coal to power generation. In recent past, several private companies have also joined the league of companies operating in Singrauli. It is expected by 2017, that Singrauli would feed around 35,000 MW of electrical power to the grid alone.
Major companies operating or coming up at Singrauli are:
| Name of Industry | Industry Type | Operator | Date of Establishment | District | State | Capacity | Notes |
| Singrauli Super Thermal Power Station (SSTPS) | Thermal Power (electricity) | NTPC | 1977 | P.O. : Shaktinagr, Sonebhadra district | Uttar Pradesh | 5 x 200 MW + 2 x 500 MW=2000 MW | With international assistance of IDA & KFW |
| Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station (VTPS) | Thermal Power (electricity) | NTPC | 1982 | P.O. : Vingdhyanagar, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 1260 MW (6X210 MW) under Stage-I, 1000 MW (2X500 MW) of Stage-II and 1000 MW (2X500 MW) under Stage-III. Total=3260 and 1000MW of Stage-IV is under construction. | With international assistance of USSR-stage I, World bank under time slice loan stage II |
| Rihand Thermal Power Station (RTPS) | Thermal Power (electricity) | NTPC | 1977 | P.O. : Rihandnagar, Sonebhadra district | Uttar Pradesh | 1000 MW (2x500 MW each) in Stage-I and 1000 MW (2x500 MW each) in Stage-II Total= 2000MW and 1000MW of stage-III has been commissioned recently. | With international assistance of United Kingdom |
| Northern Coalfields Limited | Coal mining | Coal India Limited | 1984 | P.O. : Singrauli Colliery, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | coal supplies made it possible to produce about 13295 MW of electricity from pithead power plants of NTPC, UPRVUNL and Renupower division of M/s. Hindalco Industries | Thickest coal seam of India-131 metres (Jhingurda seam) |
| Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project | Thermal Power Plant (electricity) | Reliance Power | 2013 | Vill. : Sasan, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 3,960 MW | Generated Highest PLF in India |
| Chitrangi Power Project | Thermal Power Plant (electricity) | Reliance Power | 2007 (bidding) | Chitrangi, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 3,960 MW | under construction(Put on hold due to CAG Report) |
| Muher and Muher Amlori extension | Coal mining | Reliance Power | 2007(bidding) | Muher - Amlohri, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | coal reserves of these mines are around 720 MT with a production level of 25 mtpa | --- |
| Mahan Super Thermal Power Project | Thermal Power plant (electricity) | Essar Group | 2007(bidding) | Vill. : Bandhaura, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 2x 600 MW = 1200MW | unit I commissioned, unit II in under construction |
| Mahan Captive Thermal Power Plant | Thermal Power plant(electricity) | Hindalco Industries | 2007(bidding) | Rewa-Ranchi; NH-75(E), Bargawan, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 900-MW 150x6 | Out of 6 Units, I, II & III Commissioned by BHEL |
| Mahan coal Limited | Coal mining | joint venture of Essar and Hindalco | 2007(bidding) | Vill. : Ameliya, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | - | Essar will take 60% of the coal output and Hindalco will take the remaining 40% |
| Mahan Aluminium Limited | Aluminium smelter plant | Hindalco Industries | 2007(bidding) | Rewa-Ranchi; NH-75(E) Bargawan, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 359-ktpa aluminum smelter | Production started |
| Jaypee Nigrie Super Thermal Power Project | Thermal Power plant (electricity) | Jaypee Group | 2007(bidding) | Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 2 x 660 MW= 1320 MW | Under Erection |
| M.P. Jaypee Minerals | Coal mining | joint venture of M.P. government and Jaypee Group | 2007(bidding) | Vill. : Nigaree, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 2 million tonnes | --- |
| DB Power M.P.Limited | Thermal Power plant (electricity) | Dainik Bhaskar | --- | Near Nigaree, Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | 1320 MW | underconstruction |
| VindhyaChal Pooling sub-station | Power transmission | Powergrid | --- | Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | from SasanUMPP (2 No 765 kV S/C Sasan - Satna Transmission lines) and Vindhyachal Stage-IV (400 kV DC (Quad)Vindhyachal - Vindhyachal Pooling line), 2 No 765 kV S/C from Vindhyachal Pooling to Satna Sub-Station, a 765/400 kV Pooling substation near Vindhyachal Stage-IV (1000 MW), Rihand Stage-III (1000 MW) as well as Aryan Coal Benefication Pvt Ltd. (1200 MW) Generation Projects | --- |
| Amelia coal block | Coal mining | Joint Venture Company of Sainik mines and M.P. State Mining Corporation Ltd. | --- | Singrauli District | Madhya Pradesh | ----- | --- |