1 18
2 97. The forest receipts of this district for 1871-72 amounted to Rs. 18,769-7-5,
3 against Rs. 4,848-14-0 in the previous year. The former
4 amount, however, includes Rs. 7,433-7-0 on account of
5 outstandings at the close of 1870-71 and Rs. 2,900 on account of forest revenue
6 from non-feudatory Zamindaris, which used previously to be credited to land
7 revenue, so that there has been an actual falling offin the revenue for: the year
8 under report of Rs. 3,746-4-7, Mr. Beddy reports that measures have been taken
9 for the thorough conservation of the Sonakhan forests,
10 Bilaspur district.
11 98, The District officer reports an increase in the Government demand
12 for the forest year, that is from Ist June 1871 to 3lst
13 July 1872, of Rs. 775-14-1, but the actuals for the offi-
14 cial year 1871-72 amount to Rs. 1,697-5-2 more than those of the previous year.
15 Of the 424 blocks into which the forests are divided, 420 were leased out for
16 the year, while 4 were held under direct management. The merits of the
17 different systems are not, however, adverted to in the District report.
18 Chhindwara district.
19 99. There has been an increase in the revenue from this district for the
20 year under jy ak amounting to Rs. 1,331-12-10. The
21 plan adopted for realizing the revenue is briefly described
22 in the following extract from Colonel Ashburners report :—
23 Upper Godavari district
24 “ The requirements of the population from Government jungle consists princi-
25 pally of wood for building purposes; 2nd, grass; 3rd, bambvos; 4th,
26 mowha flowers and grazing. The rights were formerly rented out
27 annually to the highest bidder, and contractors were entitled to levy
28 the rates laid down by Government. As it appeared to me that this
29 money could be collected by the existing staff of Government servants
30 I did away with the contract system, and assessed, thrqugh the agency
31 of local Punchayets, each village in an annual sum, giving all the resi-
32 dents the right of usufruct, This change has been very favourably re-
33 ceived by the villagers, whilst the profits of the middleman, the contrac
34 tor, are shared by Government and the villagers.
35 Only in the Rakapilli Taluk did | find a custom resembling a prescrip-
36 tive right ;, there the inhabitants collected the tlowers of the mohya
37 tree without payment. As it was the custom in the other taluks of the
38 district to auction the right to mowha flowers, and rates were levied
39 from the villagers, now throughout the district the special payment
40 has been commuted to a village rate, varying according to the number
41 of trees, and with this the villagers seem perfectly satisfied.”
42 100. Timber operations on a small scale have been attempted. 144 logs of
43 timber had been handed over to the Public Works Department for Rs. 504, and
44 100 first class logs were in course of delivery. There seems to be a large
45 demand for wood tor the Public Works Department, which Colonel Ashburner
46 hopes to be able ta meet from the Gavernment forests.
47 101, The demarcation of the Government forests by masonry pillars is
48 reported as complete throughout the district.
49 102. The reyenue for the yoar under report has exceeded that of the
50 cundinaeicae previous year hy Rs, 5,2)2-2-6. Of the income, which
51 amounted for the past year to Rs. 19,443-7-10, the sum
52 of Rs. 17,745 is on account of grazing fees, which were levied at the following
53 rates ; from Bunjaras 14 pie per bullock for oach day that they remain in the
54 district ; from agriculturists of the district, Rs. 5 per 100 head per annum for cattle
55 of all kinds ; from persons other than agriculturists belonging to the district