PLACES

SHRIVARDHAN

Srivardhan (Srivardhan taluka; p. 10,299, RS. Khopoli, 63 m. NE) about twelve miles south of Janjira, an ancient place of historical importance is mentioned as being visited by Arjuna Pandav in his pilgrimage, is well placed for trade and in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries under Ahmadnagar and afterwards under Bijapur was a port of consequence. It appears in the accounts of leading European travellers as Ziffardan. In 1538 Dom Joao de Castro described it as with little water in the pier at low tide but inside large and roomy. [Primeiro Roteiro da Costa da India, 47.] It or rather Haresvar about three miles to the south, is notable as the birth-place of Balaji Visvanath, the first Pesva (1713-1720) who was the desmukh of the town. In 1713 Srivardhan was one of the sixteen fortified places in the Konkan ceded by Balaji Visvanath Pesva to Kanhoji Ahgre of Kolaba. [Grant Duff's Marathas Vol. I, 328.] Srivardhan has still a considerable trade which in 1959-60 was of the value of Rs. 15,66,555, of which Rs. 15,07,827 were imports, and Rs. 58,728 were exports. The trade consists chiefly of betelnuts which are highly valued in Bombay and coconuts to a certain extent. On Caitra full-moon (April-May) a yearly fair is held in honour of Bahiri when about 12,000 persons attend it, and articles valued at about Rs. 3,000 are sold.

A Pesve memorial was built on the same place where once stood the Pesve Mansion. The new construction is proposed to house a kindergarten, a gymnasium, a ladies' club and a big hall. The important temples in the town are-Somjaldevi, Jeevanesvar and Narayandev. It is believed that a person with a snake-bite is cured if taken to the Somjai temple. The Jeevanesvar temple is built in Hemadpanti style. Members of the Pesve family used to visit Narayandev temple which is near the Pesve memorial.

The population of the town according to 1951 census was 10,299. Of this, the agricultural classes number 4,054 and the non-agricultural 6,245. Of the latter, 2,641 persons derive their principal means of livelihood from production other than cultivation; 658 persons from commerce; 549 persons from transport; and 2,397 persons from other services and miscellaneous sources.

Municipality.

Srivardhan is a town with an area of 4.25 sq. miles where the municipality was established in the year 1887-88. It now functions under the Bombay District Municipalities Act, III of 1901. The municipality has 15 councillors. Two seats are reserved for women and one for the Scheduled Castes. The committees which look after the municipal affairs in respective fields are: (1) Managing Committee, (2) Octroi Committee, (3) Sanitary Committee, (4) Market Committee and (5) Education Committee. The following departments form part of the municipal organisation:-

(1) General Administration,

(2) Collection Department.

(3) Public Safety.

(4) Public Health and Convenience.

(5) Public Works.

The Chairman of the Managing Committee looks after the ad-ministration of all the departments and his work is supervised by the President of the Municipality.

The total income of the municipality for 1958-59 excluding extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 61,569 comprising municipal rates and taxes Rs. 53,795; realization under Special Acts Rs. 777; revenue derived from municipal properties and powers apart from taxes Rs. 4,584; grants and contributions Rs. 1,877 and miscellaneous Rs. 536. The expenditure for the same year amounted to Rs. 71,476; general administration and collection charges being Rs. 5,789; public safety Rs. 13,999; public health and convenience Rs. 32,518; public instruction Rs. 7,232; contributions Rs. 70 and miscellaneous Rs. 11,868.

Public as well as private wells form the source of water supply for Srivardhan town.

There are kutcha stone-lined drains through which waste-water and rain-water is drained into the sea. There is no built up drainage system as such in the town.

Markets are privately owned and they are brought under the municipal management by an agreement to that effect for a period of three years.

There is a Government dispensary in the town but no municipal dispensary.

Primary education which is now compulsory in the town is managed by the Zilla Parishad, the municipality contributing at the rate of 5% of the rental value based on annual letting value of properties. There is a public library in the town and the municipality pays an annual grant of Rs. 200 to this library.

The total length of the roads of the Srivardhan municipal area is 12.75 miles and all are unmetalled.

The cremation and burial places in the town are managed by the respective communities. Cremation and burial places for Hindus are on the sea-side and those of Muslims and Jews are in the town.

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