1 ( 2t )
2 107, In last vear’s Report it was mentioned that 12 kinds of trees had been
3 Srna Titabiat. reserved in this District, aud that these were sup-
4 phed to the inhabitants at fixed rates nuder the
5 special arrangements of the district officer ; also that a house tax or system of com-
6 mutation had been proposed, by which the people were to be allowed to supply
7 themselves with all other forest produce on paymeut of 1 anna per house per
8 mensem, or 12 annas per annum, but that this proposal bad been suspended for
9 re-consideration. During the past year, the whole system of Distmet Forest
10 management has been revised with the following results.
11 108. The only forest produce that the inhabitants of the District are now
12 obliged to pay for is timber for constructive pur-
13 poses of the reserved and unreserved descriptions,
14 which are made procurable on pormits-fromn ‘Talisceldars and Puatels respectively.
15 Fuel (except to large consuiners), grass, and grazing are allowed free. Duty is
16 however levied on all produce exported from the district, as well as upon the graz-
17 ing of cattle belonging to other than permanent residents.
18 System of working District Forests.
19 Minor forest produce, suclr as fruits, gums, &c., is annually put up to auction
20 village by village. ‘Tahseeldars collect the dues on grazing and on timber of the
21 reserved descriptions ; all other produce being taxed by patels. The Patels are
22 assisted by the Putwarees, and a percentage on their collections is allowed them
23 a4 remuneration.
24 Each Talook has a separate District establishment, whose duty it is to super-
25 vise the felling of the reserved woods, and to see that the rules are goncrally
26 observed by the poople.
27 109. The above system of management, which was only introduced towards
28 the close of the year, has so far been found to work satisfactory. The Deputy
29 (‘ommissioner however fears that the revenue will be materially affected by the
30 large number of Izarah villages that arc scattered over the district, since the Izar-
31 dars utterly regardless of the injury they may do to thcir estates, will under-sell
32 the Government, so long as they have any forest produce left.
33 110. Hitherto the forests in this district have not been managed on any
34 definite plan. A certain number of trees have
35 been reserved, and these have been supplied to
36 the poople at fixed rates under the orders of the Deputy Coimmixsioner. No
37 additional conservancy measures have been introduced,:and the people have been
38 allowed to help themselves at pleasure to all other forest produce free of charge.
39 Bassim District.
40 111. In the month of March, [ submitted, through the Commissioner of the
41 Division, a draft of rules for the management of the Bassin Forests, and this is
42 now before the Resident. The Rules are very similar to those sanctioned for
43 Woon, the main difference consisting iu the arrangements regarding grass and
44 grazing, which will be disposed of under the Settlement Rules now that the
45 Revenue Survey operations in the district have been completed.
46 112, The revenue of the District Foresta, exclusive of the receipts of the
47 nakahs in north and south Berar, has imecreased
48 from Rupees 55,990-9-0 in 1870-71, to Ru-
49 pees 64,967-13-1 during the past year, or by nearly Rupees 9,000. This is owing
50 for the most part to the definition of District Forests, as given in the new [orest
51 Rulos, necessitating the transfer to Forests of several items of revenue which were
52 formerly credited to the Civil Department. Also to the better management of the
53 District Forests consequent on the issue of special district rules.
54 Revenue of District Forests.
55 113. These nakahs, which collect seigniorage on all forest produce im-
56 ported to the plains trom the Adjunta Range, have
57 yielded a revenue during the past year of Ru-
58 pees 5,911-8-0, against Rupees 3,443-7-9 in 1870-71. The latter, however, is the
59 Nakahs in the Southern Division.