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PLACES
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PULGAON
Pulgaon, with in 1961 a population of 28,063, is a fast growing municipal town in Wardha tahsil on the Wardha river situated about 19 miles south of Wardha. It is a railway junction on the Wardha-Badnera section, Arvi rail link taking off from here northwards. The main town lies south of the railway and is comparatively a new town sprung out of a collection of hutments of workers employed on the railway bridge over the Wardha river near which the town stands. Hence its name 'the village
by the bridge.' Its rapid rise in importance is due to the favourable position it occupies in the centre of a large cotton growing tract. Again Pulgaon is on the Bombay-Nagpur trunk route and hence can avail itself of the speedy transport. Added to the post and telegraph, is the telephone exchange which highly facilitates commercial transactions.
Pulgaon was created a municipality in 1901[ Census Handbook of Wardha District however gives the year as 1902.] and has an area of 5.3 square miles under its jurisdiction. Nineteen elected councillors constitute the municipal committee. A president is elected by the councillors from among themselves to preside over its meetings. In 1961-62 the total municipal receipts were Rs. 2,87,337 of which receipts from municipal taxes amounted to Rs. 1,12,347. [ Ibid.]
The town is built on rocky soil and derives its water supply mainly from the Wardha river, though in recent years quite a few wells have been added to augment the water supply. In dry years when the water runs low a scarcity of water is felt. Pulgaon has educational facilities upto the higher secondary school stage, the primary education being solely conducted by the municipality. A library is conducted by the neo-Buddhist youths. The municipality conducts a civil hospital together with a family planning centre. There are also a veterinary dispensary and a leprosy eradication centre. A club known as Liberty Club established in 1952. besides providing most of the indoor games, has been doing fine work in social and cultural fields also. In 1961 the efforts of its members materialised in the shape of a Manila Mandal, tailoring classes and a vyayamshala or gymnasium. It also brings out a weekly magazine both in Hindi and Marathi captioned ' Shiv Prerana' for which a press was set up in 1962.
The town has temples dedicated to Madan Mohan, Buddha, Balaji, Maruti and Vitthal. Of these Balaji temple is reported to be 80 years old and is perhaps the first temple to be built in Pulgaon. It is looked after by a trust. The Buddha temple containing a bronze bust of the Buddha has a spacious sabhamandap and is built by the neo-Buddhists of Pulgaon. The statue is reported to have been brought from Thailand. Madan Mohan temple was built some 60 years ago by one Sivdasji Mohota. Krishnalila in Shravana is celebrated.
Pulgaon is one of the leading cotton trade centres in the district, there being a large cotton market. The Pulgaon spinning Mills were opened in 1892. There are also some ginning and pressing factories. Handloom cloth industry is also picking up gradually. Pulgaon has assumed military importance since the establishment of a large ammunition depot here. The town has a rest house.
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