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PLACES |
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ICHALKARANJI
Ichalkaranji (Hatkanangale T.; 16° 40' N; 74°
25' E; p. 27,423; a 8.7 square miles), lies in the Pancaganga valley
about eighteen miles east of Kolhapur and half a mile north of the
river. It is six miles south-east of Hatkanangale railway station.
The town is said to be formed of seven hamlets. The climate is
healthy, but the water of the wells is brackish. Every year in
October a large fair attended by 2,000 people is held in honour of
God Vyankates. On the 24th and 25th of Safar a Muhamma-dan
fair or urus, attended by about 1,000 people from ten to
twenty miles round, is held in honour of Makhdum Pir and Dari Pir.
Area and Population.
Of the total population of 27,423 according to the
Census figures of 1951, the agricultural classes number 6,831 and
the non-agricultural classes 20,592. Of the latter, 11,786 persons
derive their principal means of livelihood from production other
than cultivation; 2,530 persons from commerce; 359 persons from
transport; and 5,917 persons from other services and miscellaneous
sources. [There is something wrong with the figures given in the
Kolhapur Census Hand Book. The total for both the agricultural
and non-agricultural classes amounts to 27, 182 whereas the
total population is given as 27, 423.]
Municipality.
The civic affairs of the town are managed by a
municipality established in 1893 and now functioning under the
Bombay Municipal Boroughs Act (XVIII) of 1925. The Municipality area
covers 7.59 square miles. The municipal council is composed of 20
members all elected. Two of the seats are reserved for women and one
for the Scheduled Castes. There are five municipal committees, viz.,
the Standing Committee and committees for public health, public
works, octroi and law. The Chief Executive Officer is at the head of
the administrative organization. In 1954-55, the total income of the
municipality, excludng extraordinary and debt heads, was Rs.
3,93,961, composed of municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 2,92,139;
realisation under special Acts, Rs. 386; revenue derived from
municipal property and powers apart from taxation, Rs. 26,110;
miscellaneous, Rs. 22,421; and grants and contribution Rs. 52,905.
The total expenditure in the same year amounted to Rs. 3,86,069, of
which Rs. 72,103 was incurred under general administration and
collection charges; Rs. 25,932 under public safety (i.e.,
conservancy roads, etc.); Rs. 15,784, under public instruction; Rs.
150 under contributions; and miscellaneous, Rs. 1,783.
Municipal Services.
There is a Government dispensary and maternity home
in the town. The municipality has recently resolved to take over
this dispensary under its control, and Government orders are awaited
(February 1956). Government also maintains a veterinary dispensary
in the town, for which the municipality does not give any
contribution. There are no special drainage works for the town.
There are two open and roadside gutters. The total length of drains
is 1,20,000 feet, out of these, about 30,000 feet are half-round and
pucca built; the rest are stone-lined and Kachha drains.
Water is supplied to the town from pipes connected to a reservoir to
which water is raised from the Pancaganga by means of mechanical
pumps. There is a new scheme of water supply, estimated to cost ten
lakhs of rupees, which the municipality has submitted to Government
for administrative approval. The municipality has already earmarked
two lakhs of rupees for the scheme. An underground drainage scheme
is also under consideration to be put into operation when the new
water supply scheme is completed. Compulsory primary education in
the town is managed by the Kolhapur District School Board, the
municipality paying its statutory contribution. The municipality
maintains a firefighter and a fighter-tractor, but there is no
qualified staff to operate them. The total length of roads
maintained by the municipality is 14¾ miles, 2 miles of which are
asphalted and 4½ miles metalled, and 8¼ miles unmetalled. A
municipal market estimated to cost Rs. 52,000 is under construction
(February 1956). A library named Apte Vacan Mandir receives annual
grants from the municipality.
Burial Places.
The burial places in the town are all under the
management of private institutions. There are three for Muslims, one
for Mahars, one for Lingayats and one cremation ground for Hindus.
The municipality maintains a public park named Sundar Bag.
The palace of the Jahagirdar of Icalkaranji is an
object of interest in the town.
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