Maharashtra's Wildlife Bulletin
Angelfire - Free Home Pages
Wildlife of Maharashtra Bulletin Number 1
Wildlife of Maharashtra Bulletin Number 2
Wildlife of Maharashtra Bulletin Number 3
Wildlife of Maharashtra Bulletin Number 4
Wildlife of Maharashtra Bulletin Number 5
Wildlife of Maharashtra Bulletin Number 6
Wildlife of Maharashtra Bulletin Number 7
True to its reputation of being the economic powerhouse of India, Maharashtra's contribution towards the Indian economy is significant. With less than 10 percent of the population of the country, Maharashtra accounts for nearly one-fourth of the gross value added by India's industrial sector. The State has succeeded in achieving high levels of industrialisation, which is demonstrated by the fact that the secondary and tertiary (i.e. manufacturing and service) sectors account for 78.8 percent of the State's gross domestic product, as compared to the national average of 65.4 percent. The high level of industrialisation reflects in the per capita income in Maharashtra being Rs.17, 295 as compared to the country's average of Rs.10, 771. Maharashtra contributes almost 14.7 percent of India’s Gross Domestic Product and 15.1 percent of the national income. Maharashtra also accounts for nearly 40 percent of the total tax collections in the country. The state of Maharashtra came into official existence on May 1, 1960, echoing the Maratha legacy of Shivaji. The Arabian Sea in the West and the Deccan Plateau on the East border Maharashtra. The Sahyadris add contours to the state, located as they are between 15.60-22.10 N latitude and 72.60-80.90 E longitude. Maharashtra is 5.6 hours ahead of GMT, as is the whole of India. A landmass of approximately 308,000 sq kms makes Maharashtra the third largest state in India. Approximately 20.7 per cent of the total geographical area is under forest cover. Claiming a significant share of the Indian coastline with its 720-kms of shore, Maharashtra has several ports, functional through the year. The climate is moderate, with temperatures ranging between 160C and 350C. The monsoons lash the coasts from June to September. However, a substantial part of the hinterland remains relatively dry under the rain shadow of the Sahyadris. Maharashtra has always been the most cosmopolitan state in India. When business flourished in Mumbai during the British rule in the 17th century, migrants came from foreign lands as well as from the interiors of India. Jews, Muslims, Zoroastrians and Christians arrived to reap the profits of opportunity. India’s independence in 1947 brought a second generation of immigrants from within the country and from regions now in Pakistan. This influx reached cities like Pune, Nashik and Nagpur. The population of immigrants has helped the local populace, which has absorbed diverse skills and harmoniously adjusted lifestyles and habits with those of the non-natives. The total population is approximately 78.9 million (1991 census data), across 31 districts in the state. Nearly 40 per cent of the population lives in urban areas. Sindhis (from the Sindh province of Pakistan), Gujaratis and Parsis, Kannadigas from Karnataka, Tamils from Tamil Nadu, Marwaris from Rajasthan and Christians from Goa add the flavours of their native cuisines to the melting pot that is Mumbai. The confluence of population movements, Maharashtra represents a mosaic of religions, cultures and lifestyles of the entire country. Marathi is the official state language. Hindi (the national language) and English are the other languages used in the cities.
