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INDUSTRIES
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INTRODUCTION
DURING THE LAST CENTURY SATARA WAS INDUSTRIALLY BACKWARD, having only a few crafts. The chief crafts [Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency (Satara), Vol. XIX, 1885, pp. 220-23.] were making gold and silver ornaments, copper and brass pots and iron tools, stone-cutting, pottery, carpentry, cotton-weaving, dyeing, blanket-weaving, tanning and shoe-making. Besides working in gold and silver a few Sonars (Goldsmiths) were well known for their skill in stone-setting. Tambats and Kasars (copper and brasssmiths) were found in almost all towns. Copper and brass pot-making was one of the chief local industries. Blacksmiths, stone-cutters (Patharvats), potters (KutnbJiars), carpenters (Sutars), weavers (Salis, Koshtis and Khatris) and blanket weavers (Sangars) were found to flourish in almost all towns and large villages.
History of industrialisation in Satara dates back to 1916 when a glass manufacturing factory was established at Ogalewadi. The year 1916 also gave birth to an electricity generation plant in the district. The pace of industrialisation was, however, very slow. No new industries were started during the period following the First World War. A groundnut decorticating factory was established in 1928. Increase in the area under sugarcane cultivation gave impetus to the starting of a sugar factory in 1933. The sugar factory was a landmark in the history of industrialisation of the district. Two electricity generation plants were established in 1933 and 1940, respectively. The other industries like extraction of edible oil, copper and brass rolling and general engineering came into existence after India became politically free.
Sugar industry is one of the important industries in this district. It gives employment to a large populace of sugarcane cultivators, skilled and unskilled workers in factories and a number of technicians. There are at present, three sugar factories in this district. The Cooper Engineering Works at Satara Road have established a countrywide reputation for the manufacture of engines, spare parts, machine tools, powerlooms and agricultural implements.
In the small scale industries sector, general engineering, gul manufacture, oilseeds crushing, weaving and
pharmaceutical industries are important.
It is difficult to indicate the extent of industrialisation of Satara district in comparison with other districts of Maharashtra. Such an appraisal will necessitate the consideration of complicated issues such as availability of raw materials, capital, private initiative and cntreproneurship, economies of localisation, etc. It may be said however, that the district has not achieved a high degree of industrialisation. There remains much to be accomplished. The available resources regarding raw materials and supplv of labour are not exploited to the fullest extent.
As regards mineral deposits, Satara does not enjoy a favourable position. However, some of the tracks were found to possess deposits of iron ore, lime stone and salt. Near the Sahyadris, in twenty villages of Javli and thirty of Patau, iron ore [Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency (Satara District), Vol. XIX, 1885. Mining has. however, been abandoned since the beginning of this century.] was found in the murum or crumbled trap below the lalerite. The iron one was smelted by a class of Musalmans called Dhavads. In fixing where to dig for ore the Dhavads looked first to the presence on the surface of small lime nodules or pieces of kankar of the size of a masur bean. The next best sign of ore was a heavy blackish-yellow earth. The methods of mining and smelting the ore were very crude. It was not
economic and, hence was abandoned.
Because of its nearness to the Sahyadris and the rocky nature of much of its soil the district is well supplied with stone for building and for road metal. The prevailing stone is trap in the plains and lalerite on the hills. The trap is dark in colour and weighs 180 to 185 pounds per cubic foot. It is a hard compact stone well suited for masonry purposes. Lime stone is found all over the district in the plains, especially near
Wai. It is either nodular called kankar, or it occurs in seams along river banks. Kankar, if properly burnt, makes good mortar, but the river seams yield the best lime for building. Before the passing of the Salt Act of 1873, considerable quantities of salt were produced from earth deposits in Man in the north-east of the district.
Koyaua Electric Grid
The Koyna Electric Grid Scheme is a unique feature of the district. It is an
important landmark in the industrial development of the district and the
areas of southern Maharashtra. It is one of the biggest hydro-electric
projects in Maharashtra. It will encourage industrial growth and rural
electrification in the areas. The programme of rural electrification forms an integral part of the Koyna Scheme.
The project is estimated to generate about 5,00,000 k.w. power on completion. But initially in the first stage, it would generate about 2,40,000 k.w. Under this scheme it is proposed to construct the following major transmission lines from Koyna Power House to Karad, Satara Road and Vishrambag. It will serve Satara, Pancngani, Wai, Mahabaleshwar, Karad and Satara Road.
The Koyna Electric Grid Scheme will have a considerable impact oh the industrial development in this area. It will also fulfil the long-felt need of rural electrification.
The following statement gives statistics of the economically active (i.e. self-supporting) persons engaged, in industries which might be grouped under 'Processing and Manufacture' and Construction and Utilities'.
TABLE No. 1.
NUMBER OF ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE (i.e., SELF-SUPPORTING) PERSONS ENGAGED IN INDUSTRIES UNDER "PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURE" AND "CONSTRUCTION AND UTILITIES" IN SATARA DISTRICT IN 1951. |
Classification of Industries |
Total |
Employers |
Employees |
Independent Workers |
|
males |
females |
males |
females |
males |
females |
males |
females |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
Division 1. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
1. |
Processing and manufacture of foodstuffs, textiles, leather and products thereof. |
10,840 |
1,271 |
278 |
33 |
2,140 |
292 |
8,422 |
946 |
2. |
Food industries otherwise unclassified |
165 |
13 |
6 |
-- |
4 |
4 |
155 |
9 |
3. |
Grains and pulses |
411 |
15 |
70 |
2 |
237 |
7 |
104 |
6 |
4. |
Vegetable oils and dairy products |
649 |
127 |
32 |
4 |
132 |
17 |
485 |
106 |
5. |
Sugar industries |
966 |
40 |
2 |
-- |
864 |
32 |
100 |
8. |
6. |
Beverages |
34 |
-- |
5 |
-- |
26 |
-- |
3 |
-- |
7. |
Tobacco |
85 |
47 |
9 |
-- |
39 |
14 |
37 |
33 |
8. |
Cotton textiles |
2,164 |
273 |
17 |
3 |
588 |
98 |
1,559 |
172 |
TABLE No. 1 contd.
9. |
Wearing apparel (except ready-made footwear) and textile goods. |
1,720 |
99 |
47 |
4 |
97 |
4 |
1,576 |
91 |
10. |
Textile industries otherwise unclassified |
2,958 |
425 |
42 |
8 |
23 |
24 |
2,893 |
393 |
11. |
Leather, leather products and footwear |
1,688 |
232 |
48 |
12 |
130 |
92 |
1,510 |
128 |
|
Division 2. |
|
1. |
Processing and manufacture of metals, chemicals and products thereof. |
2,832 |
94 |
63 |
-- |
1,483 |
31 |
1,286 |
63 |
2. |
Manufacture of metal products otherwise unclassified. |
1,333 |
63 |
43 |
-- |
164 |
4 |
1,126 |
57 |
3. |
Iron and Steel |
15 |
3 |
1 |
-- |
14 |
3 |
-- |
-- |
4 |
Non-ferrous metals |
38 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
38 |
-- |
5. |
Transport equipment |
126 |
2 |
5 |
-- |
65 |
-- |
56 |
2 |
6. |
Electrical machinery apparatus, appliances and supplies. |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
7. |
Machinery (other than electrical machinery) including engineering workshops. |
1,217 |
16 |
3 |
-- |
1,164 |
16 |
50 |
-- |
8. |
Basic industrial chemicals, fertiliser and power alcohol. |
10 |
2 |
1 |
-- |
7 |
2 |
2 |
-- |
9. |
Medical and pharmaceutical preparations |
4 |
3 |
-- |
-- |
4 |
2 |
-- |
1 |
10 |
Manufacture of chemical products otherwise unclassified. |
88 |
7 |
10 |
-- |
65 |
4 |
13 |
3 |
TABLE No. 1—contd. |
Classification of Industries 1 |
Total |
Employers |
Employees |
Independent Workers |
|
males |
females |
males |
females |
males |
females |
males |
females | |
|
Division 3. |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 | 1. |
Processing and manufacture not elsewhere specified |
5,905 |
332 |
126 |
6 |
1,266 |
59 |
4,513 |
267 |
2. |
Manufacturing industries otherwise unclassified |
971 |
20 |
16 |
-- |
26 |
3 |
929 |
17 |
3. |
Bricks, tiles and other structural clay products |
105 |
15 |
11 |
-- |
50 |
7 |
38 |
8 |
4. |
Cement, cement pipes and other cement products |
9 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5. |
Non-metallic mineral products |
2,040 |
123 |
29 |
1 |
854 |
40 |
1,157 |
82 |
6. |
Rubber products manufacture |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
7 |
Wood and wood products other than furniture and fixtures |
2.537 |
166 |
46 |
4 |
132 |
4 |
2,359 |
158 |
8. |
Furniture and fixtures manufacture |
11 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
10 |
-- |
9. |
Paper and paper products manufacture |
31 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
31 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
10. |
Printing and allied industries |
200 |
4 |
24 |
1 |
156 |
1 |
20 |
2 |
TABLE No. 1—contd.
|
Division 4. | |
1. |
Construction and Utilities |
3,024 |
317 |
74 |
2 |
834 |
40 |
2,116 |
275 |
2. |
Construction and maintenance of buildings. |
2,053 |
278 |
73 |
2 |
140 |
16 |
1,840 |
260 |
3. |
Construction and maintenance of bridges, roads and other transport works. |
268 |
14 |
-- |
-- |
107 |
4 |
161 |
10 |
4. |
Construction and maintenance operations— irrigation and other agricultural works. |
369 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
297 |
5 |
72 |
-- |
5. |
Works and services—electric power and gas supply. |
118 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
112 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
6. |
Works and services—domestic and industrial water supply. |
57 |
4 |
1 |
-- |
21 |
-- |
35 |
4 |
7. |
Sanitary works and services including scavengers. |
159 |
14 |
-- |
-- |
157 |
14 |
2 |
-- |
An attempt has been made in this chapter to give an idea of the industrial situation of the district. The first part deals with mechanised industries which are registered under the Factories Act. It contains a general description, location and number of factories, capital investment, employment of labour, production and marketing of the products of the large-scale and small-scale industries. Cottage industries are described in general in the second section. The third section deals with the progress of trade union movement in the district.
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