Ganderbal (constituency of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly)
Ganderbal is a city and the headquarters of Ganderbal district in the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in disputed Kashmir region. It is in Central Kashmir; and has an average elevation of 1,619 metres (5,312 feet). Ganderbal is bordered by district Srinagar District in the south, Bandipora District to the north, Kargil District (union territory of Ladakh) in the northeast, Anantnag District to the southeast, and Baramulla District in the southwest. The current District Magistrate of Ganderbal is Shri. Shyambir Singh (IAS) and the current Superintendent of police is Shri. Ragav S. (IPS). Ganderbal is renowned for its beauty, boasting numerous picturesque places and captivating landscapes. Sonamarg is the most famous place in Ganderbal; Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is also traversed through Ganderbal district. Manasbal Lake famous for natural and purity of water as compared to other water lakes of the Kashmir Valley.
The Sind River, a major tributary to the Jhelum River flows through this district. The water of the river is mainly used for irrigation, and generation of hydroelectricity. There are three hydroelectric power stations, Lower Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project Ganderbal, Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project 1st Kangan and Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project 2nd Sumbal generating electricity on the Sind River. Besides, the water of the river is used for drinking by Srinagar city through Rangil Water Treatment Plant.[4]
Despite the fact that in the past Ganderbal has remained CM's[6] constituency,[7] it has remained quite behind in development as compared to other districts. Ganderbal constituency was represented by Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar who defeated Qazi Mohammad Afzal by a little margin of 461 votes in recently held state assembly elections 2014. The Central University of Kashmir[8] is being constructed in district Ganderbal. Three Faculties, the Faculty of Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir are also located within the jurisdiction of Ganderbal, serving to boost the economy and education of the district. Besides, there is a stadium which holds a record of playing a day-night matches
Physical Education College, the only one in the state, is situated at Gadoora village, some 3.5 km away from district headquarters.
As of 2011[update] India census,[10] Ganderbal had a population of 297446.[11] Males constitute 53.36% of the population and females 46.64%. Ganderbal has an average literacy rate of 58.04%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 68.85%, and female literacy is 45.71%. In Ganderbal, 17.01% of the population is under 6 years of age.[12]
Politics
The Municipal Committee Ganderbal is an Urban Local Body with 17 elected members. Its last elections took place on 16 October 2018.[13]
