1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1I9oI-fQ02.
2 across the border in 1899-1900 (maunds 4,27,872 as com-
3 pared with maunds 2,70,784 and maunds 2,16,515 in the two
4 following years), the result of the accumulation of stocks of
5 cheap Kohat salt shortly before the enhancement of the duty
6 is a factor of importance in the calculation. An approximation
7 to accuracy will not be possible until this factor of cheap
8 stocks is eliminated, as it probably will be during the current
9 year,
10 The small difference of °o6 in connection with the country
11 cis-Indus in the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province is
12 hardly susceptible of explanation. It is evidently due to trade
13 fluctuations and the influence of stocks.
14 In the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh there was an
15 improvement in consumption during the past year as com-
16 ePared with the average of three years. The quantities of salt
17 placed for consumption have steadily progressed from maunds
18 41,77,232 in 1899-igoo to maunds 43,08,087 in 1g00-o1,
19 and maunds 45,02,945 during the past year. This is probably
20 me result of the recovery of the country from the effects of
21 amine.
22 The decrease in consumption in the Central Provinces
23 and Berar was due toa falling off in the imports of Madras
24 salt into that area during the past year (maunds 2,23,333 in
25 1go!-o2 against maunds 4,50,000 in 1900-01 and maunds
26 3,25,000 in 1899-1900).
27 Rajputana and Central India have evidently not recov-
28 ered from the effects of the recent famine, as the quantities of
29 salt placed in these areas for consumption from all sources
30 . Show a progressive decline year by year.
31 62. The number of offences against the salt law was
32 greater than in the previous year. There were 1,490 cases
33 and 1,889 persons concerned in them, as compared with 1,028
34 cases and 1,602 persons in 1¢00-01. 933 persons (49°39 per
35 cent.) were released departmentally for the reasons given in
36 Appendix XVI, and 956 persons (50°61 per cent.) were com-
37 mitted for trial. Convictions were obtained in the cases of
38 806 persons and 48 were‘acquitted. The percentage of con-
39 victions on decided cases was 94°38 as compared with 96°19
40 in the previous year. The cases of 99 persons were pending
41 trial at the close of the year, and 3 persons died, or abs-
42 conded, before trial. 276 persons were sentenced to imprison
43 ment with or without fine as compared with 438 in 1900-01,
44 and 518 were punished with fine against 439 in the previous
45 year. The average amount of fine was Rs, 6°30 against Rs.
46 7°66 in 1900-01.
47 Agricultural conditions on the Salt Range were favour-
48 able during the year, and there was consequently a decrease
49 in offences in the czs-Indus Mines Division. 1g persons were
50 arrested in 15 cases as compared with 95 persons in 47 cases
51 during 1900-01. There were eleven cases in which arrests
52 could not be effected (against €6 in 1900-01). In three the
53 attempts to remove salt were frustrated, but in eight the
54 smugglers succeeded in removing salt of an estimated quanti-
55 ty of 2 maunds.
56 In the Kohat Mines Division there were 76 cases as
57 compared with 52 in igoo-o1, and 127 persons were involved
58 against 117 in the preceding year. There was an increase in
59 thefts of brine salt. This brine salt is of very good quality,
60 and the formation sometimes extends for miles along the beds
61 | ( 23 )
62 Penal action of the De-
63 partment.
64 Appendices XVI and
65 XVI.