Punjab.

Date:: 1908

Credit: Punjab. Source: Wellcome Collection.

378/486 (page 346)

$Land revenue. Miscella- neous revenue. Municipal, Apart from land revenue, the principal receipts in 1903-4 were forests (i*6 lakhs), and stamps (Rs. 98,000). The expen- diture was chiefly: on the Nawab’s court and household (i2-8 lakhs), public works (3 lakhs), army (2-2 lakhs), police (1-5 lakhs), pension (i*i lakhs), and revenue administration (i*i lakhs). There was a reserve balance in the State treasury at the end of the year of nearly 26 lakhs. Prior to 1886 the land revenue was mostly collected in kind, by division {batai) of the produce, the State taking one-fourth, one-third, or even two-fifths. In 1868 this system was abolished, and fixed assessments were imposed on each kind of crop. These rates were reduced in 1871—2, owing to a fall in prices. The summary settlements were completed in 1877, resulting in a revenue demand of 9-5 lakhs. The assessments were revised in 1889—91, and the revenue was raised to 11*3 lakhs. A further revision is now in progress. In the Bahawalpur and Khanpur nizdmats^ where the reassessment was completed in 1905, the increase amounts to 3-4 lakhs. Members of the Daudputra tribe, to which the Nawab belongs, hold revenue grants of the annual value of Rs. 74,000 on feudal conditions which are now obsolete. The revenue rates on cultivated lands vary from 8 annas per acre (unirrigated) to Rs. 5 per acre for gardens. The income from the grazing tax {tirni) in 1903-4 was 1.3 lakhs. The Excise department is controlled by the Mushlr-i-MM. The contract for the manufacture and vend of country spirits is sold by auction annually, and in 1903-4 the State realized Rs. 25,000. The contractor arranges for the retail sale of the liquor, subject to the sanction of the department. The system in regard to the contract for the sale of opium and drugs is similar. Rs. 34,000 was realized for the contract in 1903-4, The import of opium from Bahawalpur into the British Pun- jab is prohibited. The State receives an allotment of 15 chests of MMwa opium per annum, each chest containing 1*25 cwt. The State pays a special duty of Rs. 280 per chest, instead of the ordinary duty of Rs. 725; but the duty so paid is refunded with a view to secure the co-operation of the State officials in the suppression of smuggling. By the agreement of 1879, the Nawab is bound to prohibit and prevent the manufacture of salt within the State, and in return receives a subsidy of Rs. 80,000 per annum from the British Government. The State contains sixteen municipalities, the committees being composed of nominated official and non-official members.$

Punjab.

Licence and re-use

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