1. Location : Cuttack district is one of the centrally .located districts in Orissa. It lies between 84 degree 58 minutes to 86 degree 20 minutes east longitude and between 20 degree 03 minutes. to 20 degree 40 minutes latitude. It is bounded by the Dhenkanal district in north, Puri district in south, Kendrapara district in the east and Boudh district in the west.
2. Climate : The climate condition of the district is generally hot with high humidity during May and June and cold during December. andJanuary. The monsoon generally breaks during the month of June. Average annual rainfall of the district was 1842.2 m.m in 2007, which is higher than the normal rainfall (1501.3 m.m).
3. Area and Population : The district has an area of 3932 sq.kms and 23.41 lakhs of population as per 2001 census. The district accounts for 2.54. percent of the states territory and shares 6.36 percent of the states population. The density of population of the district is 595. per sq. kms. As against 236 person per sq. km of the state. It has 1950 villages (including 94. un-inhabited villages) covering 14 blocks. 14 Tahasils and 3 Subdivisions. As per 2001 census the schedule caste population is 4.46 lakhs (19.08 %) and schedule tribe population 8.36 lakhs (3.51 %) . The literacy percentage of the district is 76.66 against 63.08 of the state.
4. Agriculture : During the year 2006-07, the net area sown was 149 thousand hectares against 4823 thousand hectares of the state. The production of paddy was 3108272. quintals, 746 quintals wheat, 739 quintals maize, 386 quintals ragi, 67117 quintals mung, 75249 quintals biri,17057 quintals kulthi, and 2900 quintals till, 36168 quintals groundnuts,133 quintals mustard, 42354 quintals of Jute, 142550 quintals potatoes and 1310163 quintals sugarcane. During 2006-07, the total fertilizers used in the district is about 16.27 thousand MT with a breakage of 10.89 MT thousand nitrogenous, 2.71 thousand MT phosphatic and 2.67 thousand MT pottasic and the consumption of fertilizer per hectare is 51 Kg.
5. Irrigation : By the end of June 2006, it is reported by concerned department that the irrigation potential created during Kharif and Rabi are 89.07 thousand hectares and 54.71 thousand hectares respectively through major/medium irrigation projects namely Birupa Genguti island, Mahanadi Delta- I (P), MCL irrigation (P), Mahanadi Delta IAP (P), Mahanadi Delta- II (P) irrigation projects in the district.
6. Education : There were 1438 nos. of primary schools,767 nos. of middle schools,451 nos. of secondary schools and 71 nos. of general colleges in the district during 2006-07. Besides, there are 4 nos. of engineering colleges in the district during year 2006-07 to impart technical education to 1071 students.
7. Health : The medical facilities are provided by different agencies like Govt., Private individuals and voluntary organizations in the district. There were 14. nos. of the Allopathic medical institutions with 2442. beds facilities. 28 nos. of Homoeopathic dispensaries and 22 nos. of Ayurvedic dispensaries in the district during the year 2006-07.
8. Veterinary Services : During the year 2006-07, 31 nos. of Hospitals and dispensaries, 159 nos. of livestock Aid centers were functioning in the district to provide veterinary services to the people.
9. Industry and Mining : 332 nos. of small scale industries have established with total capital investment of about Rs.1243.01 lakhs with 1302 nos. of Employment generated in Cuttack district. Besides various kinds of handicraft works like silver filigrees have been developed by the skilled workers and artisans of the district.
10. Power : Consumption of electricity in Cuttack district during the year covers 608.74 million units and villages so far electrified as on 2005-06 is 1739 which constitutes 93.70 % to the total villages of the district.
11. Tourist : There are 17 nos. of tourist center such as Cuttack, Lalitgiri, Ansupa, Banki, Bhattarika, Chowdwar, Dhabaleswar, Naraj, Niali madhab, Chhapchikana, Singhanath, Amgeikuda, Kukudiapada, Kukudanga, Satakosia, Paramhansa & Nemal identified by department of Tourism and Culture, Orissa. During 2006, the numbers of Domestic tourists were 15,87,962 and foreign tourists were 579 who visited the tourists spots of the district.
12. Transport & Communication : During 2007, 64 Kms. of National Highways, 118 (P) Kms. of state highways, 155 (P) Kms. Major district roads, 443 (P) kms of other district roads 1269 Kms. of village roads and204 Kms of forest roads are operating in the district. Besides, 114 kms. of Railway lines with 20 nos. of railway stations and passenger halts are continuing in the district.
13. Banking : As on March 2007, there were 180 nos. of schedule commercial banks having 2929 crores rupees deposit and 1892 crores rupees credit in the district.
SOURCE: District Statistics Office, Cuttack Dt:16.03.2010