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PLACES
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MURUD
History.
Murud (Murud Peta; 18° 15' N, 72° 51' E; p. 9,744; RS. Khopoli, 45 m. NE) surrounded on three sides by the sea and a shallow creek, stands on the coast about a mile north of Janjira. Its length is about a mile and a half from north to south, and its breadth about half a mile.
It was formerly the capital town of the Sidis of Janjira whose grand old palace, even today is absolutely in a very good condition. Since the dissolution of the Princely States, Murud lost its pride of place as the capital town and has now become the headquarters of the taluka of the same name. Two copper plate inscriptions of the time of Anantdev, of the Silahara dynasty found here, at once push back the history of Murud by several thousand years. It is said that Avji Citnis, the father of Balaji Avji, one of the courtiers of Sivaji, was the Divan of the Sidis.
Murud abounds in rich gardens of cocoa and betel palms which for the most part line the sides of the roads. The extensive palm groves have heightened the scenic beauty of the place and has made it one of the ideal places of Kolaba district for holiday goers. Recently the Government have set up a holiday camp. Except the chief market place or the Sadarbazar and the Koli quarters the town consists of detached houses surrounded by cocoa and betel palms. As per 1961 census the population of the town is 10,072 of which males number 4,942 and females 5,130. Kayastha Prabhus form the dominant section of the population. Boats plying regularly in-between Bombay and Murud take the passengers to and fro. Murud is connected with the rest of the district by a ' Kutcha ' road which during the monsoons is rendered useless for S. T. traffic and hence is cut off from the rest of the district during the rainy season. However, work on the conversion of it into an all weather road has begun and is expected to be complete shortly. There is a brisk trade in Murud, the chief articles of trade being rice, coconuts and betel-nuts, firewood and dried fish.
The Ballalesvar Ganapati, one of the Asta Vinayakas to be seen at present at Pali, was originally at Murud. To the north of the town on a hillock there is a shrine of Lord Dattatraya said to have been established by Brahmendra Svami, who commanded respect of Sidis of Janjira and who was accepted by the latter as his Guru. The hillock on which the temple stands is called Dattaca Dongar after the name of the temple. An yearly fair in honour of Kotesvar Mahadev is held on Caitra Suddha 14th (April). ' On the occasion many booths are erected and a brisk trade in eatables and various types of toys takes place.
Of the educational centres of Kolaba District, Murud occupies a prominent place.
Murud-Janjira Municipality.
Murud-Janjira is a town with an area of 2.25 sq. miles where the municipality was established in the year 1888. It is now governed by the Bombay District Municipal Act, III of 1901. The municipal council comprises 15 members. Two seats are reserved for women. The following committees are appointed to look after the municipal affairs, viz., (1) the managing committee, (ii) the school committee and (iii) the octroi committee.
The total income of the municipality for the year 1958-59 excluding the extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 60,482 comprising rates and taxes Rs. 5.4,292; income derived from municipal property and powers apart from taxes Rs. 4,059; grants and contributions Rs. 1,896 and miscellaneous Rs. 235. The expenditure for the same year amounted to Rs. 65,494; general administration and collection charges being Rs. 15,349; public safety Rs. 8,093; public health and convenience Rs. 30,821; public instruction Rs. 9,252, contributions Rs. 86 and miscellaneous Rs. 1,893.
Pipe water is supplied to the town, but water is also drawn from private and public wells. The Government Water-works were constructed in 1892 at a cost of about rupees four lakhs. It takes water from the springs from the hill-side.
There are open gutters through which rain-water and waste water is carried away.
Primary education is compulsory in the town and is managed by the Zilla Parishad, the municipality paying its statutory contribution at the rate of 5 per cent of the annual letting value. There are two Government dispensaries within the municipal limits, viz., (i) the Fatima Begum Hospital and (ii) the Lady Kulsum Begum Maternity Hospital. There is also a veterinary dispensary run by Government.
At the foot of the hill in the north-west corner of the town, is a decent building of the Public Works Department guesthouse which provides accommodation for Government servants and travellers. Two suites in the main building are better furnished than the two in the out-house and are called first class and second class suites respectively.
There are two municipal markets, one for vegetables and the other for fish and mutton.
The municipality maintains a public park, viz., Visrambaug where special arrangement is made for children. The municipality pays an annual contribution of Rs. 360 to the public library.
The total length of roads within the municipal limits is 12 miles of which eight miles are metalled and four miles unmetalled.
The municipality maintains one cremation ground for Hindus while the burial-ground for the Muslims is managed privately.
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