PLACES

WARUD

Objects.

Warud is a town of considerable commercial importance in Morsi tahsil containing as per 1961 Census 3,158 houses inhabited by 15,888 persons. It has flourished on either banks of the river Cudamani and lies 90.104 km. (56 miles) east of Acalpur and 85.277 km. (53 miles) from Amravati, the district headquarters. Warud has excellent means of communications and in this respect it is the most important town in the tahsil. A first class road goes to Amravati via Morsi, another to Multai by Bikatghat, and there are other roads going to Nagpur and Katol via Amner. Of these the road via Amner is ordinary and can be used only in the fair weather. In addition to roads it has the following railway stations close by viz., Narkhed in Nagpur district and Pandhurna and Multal in Madhya Pradesh. Thus Warud is much better off in respect of transport than any of the other places in the tahsil. The educational institutions at Warud include an Arts College named as the Mahatma Fule Mahavidyal-aya, New English High School, and Parvatibai Dharmadhikari Kanyasala, five primary schools, one Urdu school and a Balak Mandir. The town has also a library which is named as the Desabandhudas Vacanalaya. Warud is noted for its orange plantation and a considerable trade in cotton, there being two markets one each for oranges and cotton. There is also a chilli market. Being a centre of considerable commercial importance branches of the State Bank of India, the Land Mortgage Bank and the District Co-operative Bank have sprung up. The public buildings also include a post office, the office of the Pancayat Samiti and the municipal office. There is a Poultry Farming Centre. The town has several old temples and two mosques, but the more important ones are the Kedaresvara Mandir, Rama Mandir and the Jumma Masjid.

Kedaresvar Temple.

A few yards from the Warud motor stand, on the bank of the river Cudamani is the temple of Kedaresvara, with a ghat on the back side. An inscription of the 10th Century found near the temple makes the temple a relic of the ancient period. The temple, with a small courtyard in the front, is only 1.858 m² (20 ft. square) and contains a Linga. In this courtyard there is an image of Nandi with two small shrines on either side containing idols of some deities. On the northern side a new entrance gate of cement concrete has been constructed, while in the front facing the temple a one storeyed building has been built. The inscription referred to above has been fixed in one of the side walls of the ground floor. Every day hundreds of people visit the temple to offer their prayers. Three fairs are held annually, viz., at the time of Asadhi Paurnima, Kartiki Paurnima and Mahasivratra day and are fairly well attended.

Ram Temple.

Rama Mandir is to the west of the town and has a six-pillared sabhamandap. The gabhara crowned with a small sikhar, contains the idols of Rama, Laksmana and Sita, all of white marble. Rama Navami and Gokul Astaml attended only by the local people are celebrated.

Besides the temples noted above Warud has another temple called Savata Mandir belonging to the Mali community.

Jumma Masjid.

Jumma Masjid, with a considerable open courtyard in the front, was built in 1906 and is entered through a lofty gateway surmounted by two minars. It has two prayer halls, the outer and the inner, the former measuring 4.572x3.048 metres (15'x 10') and the latter 9.144x4.572 (30'x 15'). The top of the mosque is also crowned with two minars. It is built in the traditional style. An elected committee looks after its maintenance.

Municipality.

Constitution.

The Municipality at Warud was established in 1937. It has an area of 16.39 km² (6.33 sq. miles) under its jurisdiction. The President, elected by the councillors, looks after administrative affairs aided by the necessary staff.

Income and Expenditure.

In 1961-62, the income of the municipality accrued from various sources excluding extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 1,94,353. The income comprised municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 103,774.00; revenue derived from municipal property and powers apart from taxation, Rs. 44,808.00; grants and contributions for special and general purposes. Rs. 45,297 and miscellaneous, Rs. 232.00. Expenditure during the same year, excluding that on extraordinary and debt heads came to Rs. 2,23,010.00. It comprised general administration and collection charges, Rs. 50,203.00; public safety, Rs. 11,201.00; public health and convenience, Rs. 1,01,719.00; public instruction, Rs. 51,025.00; contributions, Rs. 2,201.00 and miscellaneous, Rs. 3,656.00.

Municipal Works and Buildings.

In recent years, the municipality has provided its sweepers with residential quarters, built a godown, a vegetable market and a small building for the octroi. In addition it owns four buildings housing primary schools as also a cattle-pound.

Health and Sanitation.

There are civil and veterinary dispensaries and a maternity home. Prompt measures are taken to vaccinate the people whenever the situation demands. While some quarters of the town have pucca drains, some others continue to have kutcha ones. However, it is proposed to convert kutcha drains into pucca ones. Drinking water is obtained from wells, private and public.

Municipality.

Education.

Primary education is compulsory in the town and is under the management of the municipality. A montessori school is also conducted by the municipality. In the year 1962 there were 1,166 pupils in Marathi and Urdu schools with thirty-two teachers.

Roads.

The length of the metalled roads is 3 km. (1 mile 7 furlongs) and of the unmetalled ones, 5.428 km. (3 miles 3 furlongs).

Cremation and Burial grounds

Cremation and burial grounds are maintained and used by the communities concerned.

TOP