'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR, 1910-1911' [‎216v] (16/150)

BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
Ogio-
it-,
:1
■
'
: :
Bombay
Municipality-
mismanagement and fraud
Municipalities
unchanged, but the detection of grave — i^aua m t h e
administration of the Dhdrwdr Taluka Local Board led to its supersession by
Government for a period of two years.
2 i The general health of the city of Bombay was satisfactory. Deaths
from plague numbered 3,656, the smallest total recorded since the first outbreak
of the epidemic. There was a slight rise in the aggregate mortality of the year,
but this was probably not out of proportion to the normal growth of population
and a decrease in deaths from cholera and phthisis indicates improved health
conditions. The most important special work undertaken by the municipality
was connected with the provision of overbridges, expenditure under this head
amounting to nearly Rs. 8 Idkhs. The second half of the loan of 30 Idkhs for
this purpose was raised during the year. The recurring debt expenditure of the
municipality was increased by about Rs. 2 30 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , while recurring expenditure
on education rose by Rs. i'24 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The total charges of the year amounted
to Rs. 1-i3 crores, showing a net decrease of about one lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The actual
receipts, aggregating Rs. 1 22 crores, exceeded those of the previous year by
nearly 10 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , the increase being chiefly due to additional taxation in the shape
of an increase in the general tax, the fire tax and the town duty on grain and
the imposition of a duty on firewood. A reduction, however, was made in the
water tax and in water charges to the railways and the Port Trust. The real
expansion of revenues apart from the increased taxation is estimated at about
Rs. 3 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . The collection of revenue was carried out efficiently. The existing
sources of water-supply remained unaltered, but progress was made in substituting
larger mains in localities where the old pipes were insufficient. The general
purity of the supply was well maintained. Communications were improved by
additions to the streets costing over Rs. lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , by laying.down tarred surfaces
in selected areas, and by the erection of street refuges at congested crossings.
The management of the municipal workshops was satisfactory, and was fully
equal to the growing demand imposed by increasing mechanical transport and
the addition of pumping and other drainage machinery of a complicated nature.
Special mention must be made of the efficient working of the municipal fire-
brigade. Only one fire was attended by fatal results, and in this case the brigade
were summoned too late to render material aid. Though the number of fires was
above the average, damage to property was reduced to less than 6 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , the
lowest figure for the last 10 years. Educational progress is witnessed by an
addition of 13 municipal schools.
22. The aggregate revenue of district municipalities was Rs. 75 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , or
less by 8 per cent, than that of the previous year. The falling off appears
chiefly however in the Sind municipalities and is there mainly due to a decrease
in extraordinary sources of income. In the rest of 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. there was a
general expansion in receipts from rates and taxes, affording evidence of the
growing value of assessable property and the favourable trade conditions of the
season. Considerable grants were again contributed by Government in aid of
deserving projects. As a result, partly, of this policy the year was marked by
much activity in initiating and carrying out important works connected with
the improvement of water-supply and sanitation in large towns. Loans were
raised by several municipalities, and in spite of the falling off in revenue the
a gg re g a t e expenditure under all heads increased by 14 percent, to a total ot
nearly 97 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . At the same time satisfactory progress was made in the
liquidation of old debt. The total liabilities on account of loans amounted at
the close of the year to 53 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , out of which 38-I lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees were due from the two
municipalities of Ahmedabad and Karachi alone. There were comparatively f el
important changes in the constitution of municipal bodies. The corporations