PLACES

GEORAI

Gevrai, with a population of 7,129 according to the 1961 Census, is the headquarter town of the tahsil of the same name. It lies on the Jalna-Aurangabad-Solapur road, and is fast developing as a centre of commercial importance. In August 1960 a market committee was established here. Land around is very fertile and crops of jovar, groundnut, mung and cotton are successfully grown. There are two ginning and pressing factories.

It has the offices of the tahsildar and the panchayat samiti There are a civil dispensary, veterinary dispensary, a leprosy control centre, a balak mandir, a government school, a police station, a post-office, and a court of the Civil Judge, Junior Division. There is also a rest house.

Objects

Gevrai has temples dedicated to Mahadev, built in the Hemadpanti style, Khandoba on the top of a nearby hill called Palkhya Dongar and Laksmi Narayan. Besides there are many other small ones but those noted above, claim some local importance. Khandoba. is said to be a jagrt daivata and in His honour an annual fair is held on Margasirsa Suddha Sasthi.

Laksmi Narayan Mandir: The Laksmi Narayan mandir was built in 1959 at a cost of Rs. 40,000. Marble has largely been employed in the building of the mandap which is 2.79 sq. metres (30 ft. square). A lofty entrance leads inside. On either side of the mandap there are two raised platforms. The idol chamber is 0.743 sq. metres (8 ft. square) and contains the marble images of Laksmi and Narayan doned with silver crowns. In addition, the gabhara also contains the idols of Hanuman and Garud.

Municipality

Constitution: The municipality at Gevrai was constituted in the year 1954. It has an area of 52.31 km.² (20.2 sq. miles) under its jurisdiction. The municipal committee is headed by the president who is elected by the councillors from among themselves. He is the executive head and discharges the municipal functions aided by the necessary staff.

Finance: The municipal income amounted to Rs. 32,900.03 in 1962-63 and consisted of revenue from municipal taxes Rs. 11,923.87; income from municipal property and powers apart from taxation Rs. 5,560.52; income from miscellaneous sources Rs. 2,746.10 and grants and contributions for special and general purposes Rs. 12,669.54. The municipal expenditure during the same year was Rs. 38,591.19, which showed a deficit of Rs. 5,691.16. The expenditure comprised general administration charges Rs. 7,142.86: public works Rs. 100.00; public health and safety Rs. 13,963.58 and miscellaneous Rs. 17,384.75.

Health and sanitation: The town has two dispensaries, one civil and one veterinary, located in sadar bazar and khatik galli respectively. Both are managed by the government. It has stone-lined gutters which were constructed at a cost of Rs. 6,000 in 1962-63. The source of water-supply is wells. Tap water would soon be made available to the town inhabitants.

Education: Primary education is compulsory and is under the control of the Zilla Parishad.

Cremation and burial places: Cremation and burial grounds are owned and used by the communities concerned.