‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎282r] (111/192)

1919-1920.]
FORESTS.
87 Chapter IV.
PRODUCTION
6. The value of forest produce granted free was Es. 50,753 against djstrIbStion.
Bs. 24,734 in the previous year. s Free gra -
7 . T1 ]on«T S f a P? n?of« il V Cr f & l ln th6 ex P e , ndlture new buildings Co-caw
frorn Rs. do^joA to .tis. oOjZio, but tuere was a decroase on now roads from an ^
Bs. 3,44,175 to Es. 2,28,590. The expenditure on other works decreased from
Es. 8,423 to Es. 7,874. Eepairs to existing constructions cost Es 1 83 565
against Es. 1,60,826. ’ ’
8. The revenue decreased from Es. 32,35, 937 to Es. 28,84,563 and the Financial results,
expenditure from Es. 25,24,474 to Es. 21,76,226. The net surplus was thus
Bs. 7,08,337 as compared with Es. 7,11,463 in the previous year.
4.— Sind Circle.
1. During the year 33 square miles were added by accretion, while an Area
area of 53 square miles was disforested, transferred or eroded. The total area
under forest at the close of the year amounted to 1,135 square miles.
2. External boundaries to the extent of 25 miles were artificially Boundaries,
demarcated during the year. Eepairs to existing boundaries were carried out
over a length of 2,024 miles. The work was done by free labour in exchange
for certain privileges granted by the Forest department. Of the internal
boundaries, 107 miles of new compartment lines were cut during the year, of
which 70-J miles were cut free of cost, while 36J miles were cut at a cost ’ of
Bs. 986. Old rides, twenty feet wide, were kept clear over a length of
2,925 miles. This latter work was also done free by Maldars.
3. The area awaiting forest settlement at the close of the year was nil. Settlement.
4. The prescriptions of the working plans were adhered to and the working plans,
prescribed coupes duly exploited. Dead wood was also exploited in Sukkur and
Larkana divisions. Thinnings were carried out in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana
and Shikarpur divisions. The experiment of cutting coupes departmental!}'
was carried out in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions. The resultant material
was sold by auction to the highest bidder. Some modifications of the proposals
made in the Upper Sind working plans are still under consideration.
5. Of the 140 cases tried by magistrates, 44 resulted in convictions and 8 Forest offences,
in acquittals, 2 cases were compounded under section 67 of the Indian Forest
Act, and 86 cases were pending at close of the year. The percentage of failures
was 15‘4 as compared with 19T5 in the preceding year. Including cases of
illicit grazing, the number of forest offences compounded under section 67
of the Indian Forest Act was 2,532 and the amount recovered as compensation
was Rs. 15,053. Of the above number, 28 cases were let off with a warning.
6. One hundred and one fires occurred during the year as compared with Forest fires.
251 in the preceding year, the area burnt being 2,396 acres against 10,685
acres.
7. Natural reproduction daring the year under report was satisfactory Natural and artificial
m the early part of the year but later suffered much from frost. The area P roduction -
hooded was 4,75,049 acres as against 1,09,459 acres in the previous year.
Works of artificial reproduction were carried out with and without the aid of
cereal cultivation. The results were good, but damage by frost was serious.
8. The value of timber and other forest produce given free for agricultural Free grants,
purposes, construction of dwellings, mosques and temples was Es. 525 as against
hs. 652 in the preceding year.
9. No roads for inspection or transport purposes were constructed during Communications,
, e year. New buildings were constructed at a total cost of Es. 30. Eepairs and
0 fisting buildings cost Es. 4,773. Es. 540 were spent on new irrigation
jvwks and Es. 5,533 on clearing old karias and maintaining the existing
10. The revenue decreased from Es. 7,72,890 to Es. 7,37,414. This Financial results.
sAfr 6 • WaS 'Em to less realizations from the sale of coupes in Lower
n . ^visions following cessation of the war and also to the fact that proposed
Qinmng s were postponed in view of slack market conditions. Expenditure
noreased from Es. 2,60,571 to Es. 2,88,255 due to the increase in the rates of
anes im, i allowances of officers and subordinates.