'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1909-1910' [‎177r] (85/148)

; 90 d .l9lO.] MI^S AND QUARRIES* 47 Chap. IV.
PRODUCTION
6< Expenditure on buildings amounted to Rs. 6,476 and on communications to distribution.
pS. 20,57 Expenditure on build
ings and communica-
7 The revenue and expenditure during the year were Rs. 14,54,845 and Rs. 8 30 595 i £ ona -
actively compared with Rs. 14,10,276 and Rs. 8,26,430 in the previous year. * expenditure.
4.— Sind Circle.
respe
1 . The area of the reserved forest increased by 15 miles and 547 acres and amounted Area.
, ^25 miles and 140 acres at close of the year. There was no change in the area of pro-
fj ° tel forests which stood at 585 acres, tinder reserved forests 31 miles and 623 acres were
; eC ,j e 0 ver to the Forest Department in the shape of fresh alluvial accretions, whilst 22 miles
ud 431 acres were swept away by the river during the year.
2. External boundaries were demarcated to a length of 19 miles and repairs were carried Boundaries.
, over a length of 2,033 miles. The work was done by free labour in exchange for certain
0U ‘vileges granted by the Forest Department. Internal boundaries consisting of rides 20 feet
wide were cut over a length of 62 miles. A sum of Rs. 653 was spent on 62 miles.
3. The area awaiting Forest Settlement at the commencement of the year 1909-1910 was Settlement.
13 781 acres ; to this 20 acres are to be added as they were found in excess when lands in
the Ratodero Taluka were notified under section 19 of the Indian Forest Act. A further area
of 913 acres was notified under section 4 of the Indian Forest Act during the year, making
14 714 acres in all. Out of this, 7,062 acres were declared reserved forest under section 19
of the Indian Forest Act, 469 acres being not suitable for f ;rest purposes were excluded from
the draft notification and 793 acres were washed away during the year, leaving 6,390 acres
still awaiting settlement at close of the year.
4. Working plans in the Jerruck and Hyderabad Divisions have been temporarily held in Working plans,
abeyance and the forests of these divisions are being worked by exploiting dead wood
only. In the Sukkur and Naushahro Divisions coupes as well as burnt areas were exploited.
Resides these areas some erosion strips in all the divisions were cleared of tree growth where-
ever the necessity arose. Fresh lists of cutting series were prepared by the Divisional Forest
Officers, Sukkur and Naushahro, and they were approved of by the officer in charge of the
Sind Circle.
5. During the year under report 99 cases were tried by Magistrates, of which 87 resulted Forest offences,
in convictions and 12 in acquittals and the percentage of failure was 12T against 22*9 in the
preceding year. Including the cases of illicit grazing the number of offences compounded
under section 67 of the Indian Forest Act was 2,899 and the amount recovered as compensa
tion was Rs. 5,197. In addition to this 14 cases were let off with warnings.
6. There were 260 fires during the year against 69 during the previous year, the area Forest fires,
traversed by fires being 19,442 acres and 2,514 acres respectively. The increase is due to the
action of malddrs and villagers who owing to a low inundation and consequent dearth of fresh
grass wilfully set the forests on fire for the purpose of obtaining new grass.
7. Natural reproduction was good but the area that came under the influence of floods was Reproduction,
less than last year. The area flooded during the year under report was 427,112 acres against
546,890 acres in the previous year. Artificial reproduction was carried on with and without
the aid of cereal cultivation and the result was fairly satisfactory. Bahul and kandi seed
was broadcasted in felled coupes as well as in blank areas and kachas but owing to the low
inundation the results were not favourable. Babul and Jcatidi seed likewise was broadcasted in
the forests of the Hyderabad and Jerruck Divisions with more successful results owing to
heavy rains and to favourable inundation in parts of these divisions. Efforts were also made
to extend tali (Dalbergia sisso) plantations wherever facilities existed.
8. No road for inspection purposes and for the removal of material from coupes was Communications
constructed iu forests during the year under report. New buildings were constructed at a cost buildmgs.
of Rs. 5,181 and the repairs to existing buildings cost Rs. 1,921. The total expenditure
incurred on buildings was Rs. 7,102.
9. Sums of Rs. 19,633 and Rs. 6,126 were spent on new irrigation works and repairing Irrigation,
existing water channels respectively. Besides this a sum of Rs. 2,543 was spent by the
Public Works Department on certain irrigation works for the benefit of the forests.
10. The value of timber and other forest produce given free for agricultural purposes and Free grants,
for constructing houses, temples and mosques was Rs. 1,327 against Rs. 4,096 in the previous
year.
, 11. The revenue decreased from Rs. 4,52,117 to Rs. 3,99,928 owing to the demand for Beveaue and
fuel and lac One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees especially having declined. The expenditure decreased but slightly from 1
1,90,934 to Rs. 1,90,140 and calls for no special remarks.
5. Mines and Quarries.
For details see tables under Mineral Production printed in Part I of the Statistics of British India.
■r., Mining in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. is confined to gold and manganese, the founer being
Rh&rwar District, The condition of the mining industry is, however, most unfavourable. 1 our