The district whose infrastructure gap is being costed for the next plan covers three thousand five hundred and fifty square kilometres

Background

Malappuram, the district where ministers have been setting priorities for the Fifteenth Five Year Plan and where the Makkarapparamba family health centre building was begun, was formed on 16th of June 1969. The district administration states its area as 3550 sq. kms, which is 9.13% of total area of the state, and says it ranks 3rd in the state by area. It lies between 75 to 77 East longitude and 10 Degree to 12 degree North Latitude. Its total forest area is 758.8684 sq km, made up of reserve forests of 325.3261 sq km and vested forests of 433.5423 sq km. Average annual rainfall is given as 290mm, with nearly 75 percent of the annual rains coming in the monsoon, and temperature ranging between 30 degree C and 20 degree C. The Chaliyar runs 169 KMs, the Kadalundippuzha takes a circuitus course of 130 Kms and the Tirurpuzha runs 48 Kms. About 50 Acres of mangrove forest lie at the Kadalundi estuary.