1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1902-4903.
2 Stocks in the ¢vans-Indus country have probably con-
3 tinued to exercise some effect on the rate of consumptjpn in
4 that area, but these stocks are nearly (if nct entirely) exhaust-
5 ed.
6 In the czs-Indus Punjab the figures give a very fair idea
7 of the rate of consumption. There is no appreciable loss of
8 revenue from smuggling, and the estimate of consumption is
9 probably over rather than under the mark, as some of the salt
10 consigned from the mines to Ludhiana and other marts is
11 exported to the United Provinces. ‘The figures which, it
12 is important to remember, include consumption by cattle,
13 show that the quantity of salt ordinarily consumed by the
14 native cf Upper India was in the past very much over-estimated,
15 The Departmental estimate was for many years 12 lbs. a head,
16 - and in the Luni tract we are still giving an allowance of free
17 salt at this rate.
18 The quantity of salt placed for consumption in the United
19 Provinces was less than-that of 1901-02, but in excess of the
20 quantity shown under 1900-01, Rumours of a change in the
21 duty were very prevalent in this area, and the decline in the
22 imports of the year was probably due to these rumours. The
23 rate of consumption also in this area in 1901-02, as worked
24 out from the imports, was possibly too high.
25 79. Offences were less numerous than in the previous
26 year. In 1,182 cases, in which 1,456 persons were involved,
27 the accused were arrested compared with 1,490 cases and
28 1,889 persons in 1901-02. In 72 cases the offenders made
29 good their escape. The release departmentally of 755 of the
30 1,456 persons arrested was ordered for the reasons given in
31 Appendix XV, and 701 persons were committed for tral. Of
32 these Jatter, 590 were convicted, 30 were acquitted, the cases
33 of 78 were pending when the year closed and three died or
34 absconded before trial. The percentage of convictions in
35 decided cases was 95°16 compared with 94°08 in the previous
36 year. Appendix XVI shows that ofthe persons convicted,
37 183 were sentenced to imprisonment with or without fine and
38 400 were fined. The ayerage amount of fine was 7'17 rupees
39 compared with 6°77 rupees in 1901-02,
40 80. There were 17 cases of thefts of salt at the Sambhar
41 Lake in which maunds 3-35-10 of salt were seized. The
42 only case of importance was one in which a manufacturer of
43 pan salt on the Lake edge was detected in the removal of
44 about 36 sers of salt from his work. At the Pachbadra Salt
45 Source 19 persons were seized with maunds 5-25-3 of salt,
46 compared with 7 persons and maunds 2-28-2 of salt in 1go1-o2.
47 The thefts wereof apetty character in both years, and the
48 increase in number during the year under report may be
49 attributed to the employment of a large number of labourers
50 late in the season in the extraction of salt and the excavation
51 of new pits. There was less distress in the Luni Salt Tract and
52 attempts to remove salt were smaller in number. Twenty-five
53 persons were arrested in connection with the removal of maunds
54 g-1o of salt, compared with 65 persons and maunds 24-8-7 of
55 salt in the previous year.
56 81. No smuggling of a serious nature occurred during
57 the year in the ¢zs-Indus Mines Division, Altogether 65 cases
58 occurred, in 45 of which 48 persons were arrested and maunds
59 2-5-15 of salt were seized. Intwenty cases the arrest of the
60 smugglers could not be effected. The removal of salt was
61 frustrated in six cases, but in fourteen the smugglers succeed-
62 ( 31 )
63 Penal action of the De-
64 partment under the
65 salt law.
66 BE penaices XV and
67 Casesat the Rajputana
68 Salt Sources.
69 Cases at the mines.