The Gazetteers Department

of the total population of 6,173 according to the census figures of 1951, the agricultural classes number 2,102 and the non-agricultural classes 4,071. Of the latter 1,811 persons derive their principal means of livelihpod from production other than cultivation, 1,146 persons from commerce; 102 persons from transport; and 1,012 persons from other services and miscellaneous sources.

Municipality.

The civic affairs of the town are managed by a municipality established in 1887 and now functioning under the Bombay District Municipal Act (III) of 1901. The municipal area covers nearly 5/8 square miles. The municipal council is composed of 16 members. Two of the seats are reserved for women, one to rotate in wards A and B, and the other to rotate in wards C and D. In 1954-55, the total income of the municipality, excluding extraordinary and debt heads was Rs. 33,880, composed of income from municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 16,651; revenue from municipal property and powers apart from taxation, Rs. 14,615; grants and contributions Rs. 2,391 and miscellaneous, Rs. 223. The expenditure during the same year, excluding extraordinary and debt heads, was Rs. 43,322. Of this general administration absorbed Rs. 6,607; public safety; Rs. 2,386; public health and convenience, Rs. 29,208 and other items, Rs. 5,121. There is a Government dispensary in the town and also a maternity home. There is also a veterinary sub-dispensary run by Government. The municipality has contributed Rs. 2,500 towards the cost of a new building for this dispensary, which is now (February, 1956) under. construction. There are no special drainage works for the town, In almost all parts of the, town there are pucca gutters and waste water is drained through these. There is piped water supplied from the Laksmi tank. Although the tank is in possession of Government in view of the fact that the municipality contributed Rs. 50,000 towards its construction, about sixty years ago, the water is supplied free to the municipality. The distribution of water is, however, under the control of the municipality. Compulsory primary education in the town is administered by the Kolhapur District School Board, the municipality contributing its statutory share of the expenditure. There is a high school managed by a private institution. There is no fire service manitained by the municipality. There are 5� miles of road in the town, 2� miles of which are metalled. There is a municipal cremation ground in the north of the town. There is a burial place for Mahommedans managed by the Mahommedan community.

History.

During the feuds between the Kolhapur State and the Patwardhans at the close of the eighteenth century Vadganv was several times burnt. About 1761-62 it was plundered by Raghunatharav, uncle of the Pesava. Formerly during the reign of Sambhaji (1712-1760) Vadganv was a favourite residence of the Kolhapur family and had a strong detachment of horse. Vadganv has a large Brahmanic temple of Laksmi and a Jain temple of Laksmi, which is about 4,160 feet to the south-west of the town, is in Hemadpanti style, twenty-four feet long twenty-one broad and thirty high. The Jain temple in the centre of the town is said to have been built in 1696 on one Adapa Bhugset at a cost of Rs. 40,000.

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