'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1903-1904' [‎65r] (17/112)

1903-1S04.]
SUMMARY.
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connection witli the construction and maintenance of small tanks. The need
for irrigation was less felt and the area irrigated showed, a slight decrease.
There was however a considerable increase in direct receipts on account of
Imperial irrigation works of all kinds. Operations in connection with the N ira,
Gokdk, Krishna, Godaveri and Ghat Tank surveys were carried on during the
year with results which were on the whole favourable. The total area irrigated
from the Gujarat and Deccan works for which capital and revenue accounts
are kent was 87,819 acres against 99,290 acres in the previous year. The gross
revenue rose from Rs. 7,73,444 in 1902-1903 to Rs. 7,79,638.
In Sind the inundation was distinctly good, the water being above the fair
irrigating level at the Bukkur Gauge for 54 days in all. The newly remodelled
Desert Canal and the almost complete Mahiwah system worked well and the
earnings of the latter were remarkable. A lot of masoni*y work was done on
the Nasrat Canal and considerable allotments were made on lands irrigated
by it and the Jamrao Canal. The high level of the river caused some trouble by
silting up the canal mouths and causing breaches in the bunds.
The area irrigated by all classes of works in the Province was 3,151,807
acres against 2,625,671 acres in the previous year. The gross assessed revenue
amounted to Rs. 78,33,716, of which Rs. 5,00,835 were on. account of direct
and Rs. 63,32,881 on account of indirect receipts, the corresponding figures
for 1902-1903 being Rs. 4,67,651 and Rs. 52,29,935 respectively.
47. During the year the mileage of railway open for traffic under the Railways
control of the Bombay Government increased, by 73 miles. Of the new lines,
three with a total length of 65 miles were in Gujarat and Baroda, the most
important being the Baroda-Godhra Chord Railway. The construction of a line
of tramway between iSTeral Station and Matheran was sanctioned after the
close of the year. The gross earnings of the Great Indian Peninsula Rail-a ay,
the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway and the Southern Mahratta
Railway all showed an improvement; while those of the Rajputana-Malwa
Railway fell by Rs. 31 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Rs. 227 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . Owing to the efforts of the
Southern Mahratta Railway administration, an improvement was visible in
the direct export trade of the port of Mormugao to Europe.
48. The year’s financial statement reflects the reviving prosperity of Finance
the Province. The gross Imperial, Provincial, and Local receipts improved
by crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to Ids. 17,57 3 46,516. The expenditure which totalled
Es. 9,07,15,376 was more by about 2 crores than in the previous year. There
was thus an increase of about crores in the surplus.
The increase in both receipts and expenditure was confined to the Imperial imperial*
beads of finance. The improvement in receipts amounted to Rs. 367 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees .
The largest increase was one of Rs. 267 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees from the Mint, which was however
counterbalanced by an increase of Es. 258 liikhs in expenditure. Of real
increases, that of Rs. 104 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in Land Revenue is by far the most important.
The increase was dne to an improvement of nearly Es. 63 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in the Imperial
share of collections, combined with a decrease of Rs. 41 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in the amount
transferred from. Imperial to Provincial Revenues. Next in importance is the
increase of Rs, 31 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in Opium Revenue, while the only other noticeable
increases are those under Excise (Es. 8 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees ) and Interest (Rs. 6 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees ). The
reduction in the rate of duty caused a decline of Rs. 54 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in the Salt
Revenue, while the raising of the minimum taxable income produced a small
fall in the receipts from Assessed Taxes. Imperial expenditure increased by
Es. 240 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , but the increase is merely nominal, being due to the Mint transac
tions already mentioned. In reality, the expenditure was less than in the