Kenda

Geography

Kenda is located at 23.20°N 86.53°E / 23.20; 86.53. It has an average elevation of 229 m (751 ft). The Asansol-Durgapur region is composed of undulating latterite soil. This area lies between two mighty rivers – the Damodar and the Ajay. They flow almost parallel to each other in the region – the average distance between the two rivers is around 30 km. For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared.

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India Kenda had a total population of 15,731 of which 8,360 (53%) were males and 7,371 (47%) were females. Population below 6 years was 1,811. The total number of literates in Kenda was 10,316 (74.11% of the population over 6 years).

As of 2001 India census, Kenda had a population of 14,517. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Kenda has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 51%. In Kenda, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy

Kenda is a coal mining area. One of the area headquarters of Eastern Coalfields Ltd., a subsidiary of Coal India Limited are located here. Underground mining has been hazardous activity leading to accidents. 55 persons were killed in an accident in the New Kenda Colliery in 1994. Another six persons died in an accident in Shyamsunderpur colliery in 2006. The coal mining area also faces land subsidence problems.

Collieries in the Kenda Area of Eastern Coalfields are: New Kenda, Bahula, Lower Kenda, Haripur, Chora, Chora Incline, Siduli, C.I.Jambad and Chora OCP.

Education

Kenda has three primary and one higher secondary schools.