The Gazetteers Department

There was generally a multiplicity of weights and measures with the result that the units of weights and measures differed not only from place to place but also from commodity to commodity in the same place. This resulted in a state of confusion. Though the Bengal maund was accepted as a unit of weight in all transactions of agricultural produce, the units of measure, such as, sher, chavathe, payali, adholi, etc., were prevalent in grain transactions in the villages. The unit of measure for milk was far from a standardised pattern. It used to vary from place to place in the district. This could be said of many units of weights and measures prevalent in the district.

In order to evolve a uniform system of weights and measures and to avoid the confusion resulting from such a state of affairs, the Government of India enacted the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956. This Act laid down the basic units under the Metric system, which derives its name from the primary unit of measurement-the metre. The prototype of the metre is maintained at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures at Sevres in France. Under the new arrangement the decimal system is applied to units of weights and measures.

In pursuance to Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956, passed by the Government of India, the Government of Bombay enacted the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958 for the enforcement of standard units based on the Metric system in the State. The work of enforcement of the system began in 1958 and was completed by the end of 1966.

The new units of weights and measures are enforced throughout the Dhulia district. All wholesale as well as retail transactions are now in terms of the new units. Petty transactions in foodgrains, milk and vegetables, however, are still held in old units in the villages where it will take some time for the new units to settle down.

TOP