1 ( 24 )
2 ment, based upon solid and accurate data, for a longer term of years,
3 Tn the Cis and Trans-Sutlej States these assessments have been fixed
4 for periods of twenty and thirty years. In the Punjab Proper the term
5 has been ten years, with a proviso that it may be further prolonged on
6 the expiry of the ten years if the assessment has worked well. These
7 ‘assessments have now been completed in the Cis and Trans-Sutlej
8 States, in the upper portions of the Baree Doab (comprising the Sikh
9 Manjha), and of the Rechna and Chuch Doabs, that is, all the Northern
10 region between the Rivers Beas and Jhelum. Enquiry preliminary to
11 such assessments is progressing in all remaining parts of the Punjab,
12 except the Trans-Indus Frontier and the Mountainous Huzara. The
13 portion already settled is the richest in the whole Territory, and the
14 Revenue regularly, and for the present finally, assessed, amounts to ninety”
15 five lakhs, or nearly two-thirds of the whole Land Tax. The remaining
16 one-third or sixty lakhs will be shortly assessed, and within the next five
17 years, the entire Land Tax of these Territories will have been placed upon
18 a definite’and satisfactory footing. These regular assessments have,
19 Frequent reduction of like the Summary Settlements, almost invariably
20 the Lend Eas: resulted in reduction of taxation. In the richest
21 parts of the Jullundhur Doab only, the Summary Settlement has been
22 ‘maintained, In all other Districts there has been a reduction at the
23 Regulat Settlement. These reductions, together with the summary
24 reductions on the first assessments, have caused the burdens of the tax-
25 payers to be decreased year by year as follows :—
26 Permanent reductions or decrease by Settlement since Annexation.
27 e
28 In 1850-51, decreased by Settlement, Rs, 1,63,116 £16,311
29 » 1851-52, ys » .» 1,823,817 £18,281
30 » 1852-58, yy gs » 480,688 £48,068
31 , 1858-54, 4, on » 5,10,018 £51,001
32 » 1854-55, ys ‘5 » 741,660 £74,166
33 » 1855-56, » on» +» » 262,426 £26,242
34 Se
35 Total, Rupees... 23,40,675 £234,067
36 or 23} lakhs or £234,000, and this amount may be fairly added to
37 the 50 lakhs originally reduced, making a total of Rupees 72,37,244