‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎235r] (17/192)

1919-1920.]
GENERAL SUMMARY.
IX
ambitious one ever contemplated by the Trust. The demand, for land on the
Trust’s estates continued unabated and practically all the available plots were
leased. Of the total of 1,819.plots disposed of, no less than 465 were to be
leased to co-partnership housing societies on condition that the rents of the
buildings to be erected by them were not to be more than 6 per cent, on their
outlay. Of the occupants of the Trust’s chawls, about one-third are in the
service of large employers including Government. When these large employers
provide sufficient accommodation for all their workmen and servants, the Trust
will be considerably assisted in its endeavours to provide chawls for the work
ing classes. The co-operative housing movement showed marked increase
The Trust encouraged the movement by granting concessions to the societies
which approached them for plots under proper safeguards. The transfer of the
functions of the Trust to the Bombay Municipality has been decided upon in
principle and the necessary formalities and legislation for effecting the transfer
are under consideration.
11 . Public Works— During the year, a number of important Government
buildings were under construction in the towns of Bombay, Poona, Nasik and
Karachi. In Bombay, the New Custom House was in progress, the expenditure
incurred to the end of the year under review amounting to Rs. 16,20,529 against
the sanctioned estimate of Rs. 18,20,603. The building is practically finished.
During the year, the sea wall at the site of the Gateway of India having been
completed by the Port Trust, the site was ready for commencing the actual
structure. The foundation piles of concrete were, therefore, driven and the
foundations completed. Further progress was made on the construction of the
New Custom House at Karachi, the expenditure incurred to the end of the year
under review amounting to Rs. 8,00,268 against the sanctioned estimate of
Ks. 9,58,886. The work on the Small Causes Court was also in progress, the
expenditure during the year amounting to Rs. 35,213 against the sanctioned
estimate of Rs. 3,27,279. At Nasik certain works in connection with the
Acetone Factory An East India Company trading post. were in progress, the expenditure to the end of the year under
review amounting to Rs. 20,27,781. During the year further progress was
made in the preparation or execution of schemes for the better housing of
Government officers. Progress was marked in Poona, where several bungalows
were begun and completed just after the close of the year. A temporary avia
tion ground was prepared at Juhu in the Thana district for the landing of the
Bombay Karachi Aerial Mails. A length of 660 feet of the sea wall on the
Kennedy Sea Face, Bombay, was completed at a cost of Rs. 3,20,056. The
construction of new roads was in progress during the year in various parts 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. . Bridges and causeways were also being built at certain places
m 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. . Good progress was made on several important sanitary
projects. Very good progress was made on the construction of the large
Protective Irrigation Works in the Deccan. The masonry dam of Lake Arthur
Hill, the storage reservoir for the Pravara Canals, has now reached a height of
about 200 feet. The maximum height is to be 270 feet. The progress of
work on the canals is also keeping pace with that on the dam and it is anticipa
ted that the whole scheme will be completed in 1922 or 1923. The work on
the Nira Right Bank canal and the New Bhatghar Dam also made good progress
and it is hoped to supply water from this canal in 1923 or 1924. The
expenditure on these two canal systems during the year amounted to over
hs. 25 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . A scheme for developing the irrigation in the Nira Valley to the
utmost extent possible is being investigated. There is every prospect of the
development of the sugar industry on these Deccan canals. The plans and
estimates for the Sukkur Barrage in Sind were completed during the year and
he whole project, including the canals, has since been submitted to the Govern-
uaent of India for sanction. The project is estimated to cost 16 crores of
Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . The expenditure on irrigation works under all heads of accounts
during the year amounted to Rs. 1,00,73,857.
12. Excise. —This was the second year of the triennial period of auctions
country spirit, toddy and opium shops and there was no important modifi
cation in the excise policy of Government. The duty on ganja in the Bombay
residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , including Sind and Aden, was raised from Rs. 12-8-0 to Rs. 15-0-0
per seer and that on bhang 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. proper and Aden from Rs. 1-8-0