Korba (Hindi:

) is a city and an industrial area in Korba District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Korba is the power capital of

the newly formed state Chhattisgarh. The district comes under Bilaspur division and is inhabited mainly by tribals including the protected tribe Korwas (Pahadi Korwa). Korba is blessed with lush green forest cover, where a sizeable number of tribal population is found. The Adivaisis in the forest areas live in tandem with the environment and have retained their distinctive cultural characteristics and traditional observances Korba is often referred as the Industrial Hub of Chhattisgarh. The district within itself is enriched with all the essential raw materials needed for power generation namely coal and water. The four Thermal Power Plants (KSTPS (N.T.P.C), BCPP, CSEB East, CSEB West) together generates 3650 MW of electricity. Besides these, there is a Hydro Electric Power Station situated at Bango. Coal is also abundant in the district. The SECL, a profit making coal company under the Coal India Limited has many of its important mines, part of Korba Coalfield, in Korba district. BALCO (Bharat Aluminium Company) an aluminium major is based in the district. Korba district was accorded the status of a full fledged revenue district with effect from 25 May 1998. The district headquarters is Korba city, which is situated on the banks of the confluence of rivers Hasdeo and Ahiran. Some of the planned colonies and towns situated in Korba are those of SECL Gevra Project (Asia's Biggest coalmine), Dipka project, Kusmunda Project, Banki Mongra, Balgi Project, Surakachhar, Ghurdeva, Darri, Rumgara, Manikpur Project,C.S.E.B.[Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board] Korba East, C.S.E.B. Korba West, N.T.P.C. and BALCO, SECL Gevra Project. C.S.E.B. is a huge source of electricity in Chhattisgarh. N.T.P.C. is the most important source of electricity in India. Korba city is the Power Capital of India. Its the largest power producing district of India. NTPC's Super Thermal Power Plant in Korba is working at 90% Plant Load Factor (PLF), and the plants of the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB) are also highly efficient. LANCO Amarkantak Power Ltd (LAPL) has emerged as new trend setter and working at over 90% PLF. Also two new power plants are being built in Chhuri. There are huge coal reserves in the vicinity, offering cheap pithead power generation opportunities and there is enough water from the State's largest reservoir of Hasdeo Bango. 84% of India's coal is in Chhattisgarh and two other States. There are adequate coal supplies- South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Bilaspur is doubling its production from 35 million tonnes to 70 million tonnes per annum. Korba is also the site of an aluminium facility operated by Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO). LANCO Amarkantak Power Ltd (LAPL) has set up 2x300 MW Coal based power project near Pathadi - Saragbundia villages on the Champa - Korba State Highway in Chhattisgarh, India. Set to emerge as a trend-setter in the Indian Independent Power Project sector this Project is being developed in phases to ultimately become a 1920 MW Power Project. The first and second phase of this coal based power project is already operational. Apart from the power plants, Korba is surrounded by two sides hills and forest. Other sides are flats. The main river which is flowing through Korba district is the Hasdeo river start from Pathar in the Valley of Chhota Nagpur. The total length of this river is 233 km. Its tributaries are Gagechorai, Tan and Ahiran. Forests play an important role in the social and financial structure of Korba. This district is rich in forest wealth. Korba district has two forest divisions Korba and Katghora Madwarani Madwarani Mandir is situated on the Korba-Champa Road at a distance 22 KM from district headquarter. There is a temple of Goddess Madwarani at the top of the hill. The legend behind this temple is that at the season of Nawaratri, jowar was growing under Kalmi trees near the temple. During the Nawratri season (September. October) of each year there is fair celebrated by the local people. Chaithurgarh Chaithurgarh (Lafagarh) is situated around 70 km away from Korba town. it is 25 KM north of Pali and situated at a height of 3060 height on the hill top. It was constructed by Raja Pratwidev First. Archeologists consider it as one of the strongest natural fort. Since it is protected by strong natural walls. The fort has three main entrances which are named as Menaka, Humkara,

and Simhadwar. On the hilltop there is a plain area having an area of 5sqkm. where there are five ponds, out of which three are Perennially full of water. The famous Mahishasur Mardini temple is situated here. The idol of Mahishasur Mardini having 12 hands is installed in the sanctum sanctorum. Shankar cave is situated 3 km away from the temple. The cave which is like a tunnel, is 25 ft. long. One can go inside the cave only by creeping since it is very short in diameter. The hillocks of chaithurgarh is famous for its natural beauty and the adventures experiences it offers. Many types of wild animals and birds are found here. The SECL constructed a rest house for visitors here. The temple trust also made some rooms for the tourists. Special Pujas are held during the Navaratri Kudurmal Kudurmal is a small village situated around 15 KM away from Korba district headquarter. The historical importance is that there is a Samadhi of one of the disciple of Saint Kabir's, which is about 500 years old. Devapahari Devapahari is situated 58 KM. North East from Korba on the bank of Chornai river. This river made one lovely water fall named Govind Kunj in Devapahari. Pali Pali is a tehsil headquarter in Korba district. This place situated around 50 km off from the district headquarters on the KorbaBilaspur road. It is believed that pali was the worship place of Raja Vikramaditya who was a ruler belongs in Banna dynasty. There is an ancient Shiv Mandir, which is situated at the side of large pond. Many other remnants can also be seen here. This temple is faced towards east and its entrance is in octagonal. Plinth of this temple is upon 5 platforms. Sarvamangala Sarvamangala is one of the famous temple in Korba district.The Goddess of this temple is Durga. This temple was built by the ancestors of Rajeshwar Dayal one of the Zamindar in Korba. The temple is surrounded by Trilokinath Mandir, Kali Mandir and Jyoti Kalash Bhavan. There is also a cave, which goes under the river and comes out on the other side. Rani Dhanraj Kunwar Devi was used to this cave for her daily visit to the temple. Kendai Kendai is a village situated at a distance 85 km from Korba district headquarter on the Bilaspur-Ambikapur State highway No. 5. This is one of the beautiful picnic spot in the district. There is one lovely waterfall having 75 feet height. Bhulsidih Earlir founded ancient caves in Korba is a lively town, with majority of the population as business class. The per capital income of Korba is highest among all districts in Chhattisgarh. The town comes to action after 9 when all the business class people take their kids out to roam and eat from vendors. We have two major markets of which one market is famous for their street vendors and foods. The municipal corporation has done well over the last 10 years and there is no dearth for parking places. The open theatre constructed recently provides a superb place for public gathering on major occasion. The roads are well managed and moving at 60 kmph is possible on almost every main road which even the metro cities cannot guarantee. Its the power hub of Chhattisgarh and produces 3700 MW of electricity. There are many public sector undertakings like NTPC, SECL, and BALCO which is now taken by VEDANTA. GROWING POLLUTION IN KORBA: Pollution is surely a major concern for the people there. And even the companies are worried about the pollution. But steps are being taken to install filters and newer technologies are implemented in newly constructed plants like lanco. NTPC signed a MOU with HWB (heavy water board) to provide ammonia fuel gas technology to reduce the concentration of SPM (suspended particle matter) in air.