FOREST DEPARTMENT
The forests in Bombay district are under the charge of the Divisional Forest Officer, Thane, and these forests cover an area of 19.18 sq.km. consisting of 8.07 sq.km. of reserved forests and 11.11 sq.km. of municipal forests given for management to the forest department. These forests are included in the Borivali National Park ( Recently named after late Sanjay Gandhi. The Lion Safari providing a natural habitat to lions is an attraction to tourists, Refer Chapter 19.) for the preservation of scenic, floral, faunal, geological, historical and archaeological features in an unimpaired state. Thus while preserving these aspects, the park provides recreational facilities and a centre for scientific studies.
The major portion of the forests form the catchment areas of Tulsi and Vihar lakes with high hills rising on all sides. The type of vegetation in Tulsi catchment ranges from pure evergreen on hill tops to the marshy vegetation along the fringe of the Jake. The middle zone is represented by the mixed deciduous type with teak and its associates. The seclusion and protection which these forests have enjoyed from all injurious influences has resulted in having well wooded hill slopes and abundant natural regeneration. In the catchment area of Vihar lake, there is a higher percentage of khair species.
These forests are declared as reserved forests, after being subjected to regular settlement by the Forest department. Since the forest are included in the National Park, all fellings in these forests have been suspended from 1968-69. The main function of the department therefore lies in protection of the forests, regeneration and improvement of environment and beautification of the park. Other works of development of the park include construction of roads, rope ways, water channels, etc. So far as the relation with the people is concerned, privileges or concessions are granted to the villagers in the reserved forests only. No such facilities are granted as far as the municipal forests are concerned.
The Divisional Forest Officer, Thane, is responsible for the forest activities in Thane division of which the Bombay district forms part. He is responsible to the Conservator, Thane Circle, Thane.
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CO-OPERATION DEPARTMENT
Co-operation in its infinitely varying forms offers a vast field for economic development. It was also considered to be the best form for achieving the establishment of the socialistic pattern of society. It has therefore assumed a prominent role in realising the planned development of the country, particularly the agro-industrial economy. The department is associated with the manifold aspects of the movement such as rural finance, agricultural marketing, industrial co-operation, housing co-operatives and regulation of money lending business. These activities are governed under the various Acts such as the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, the Bombay Moneylenders Act, 1946, etc.
As there is no local sector agency for the district of Bombay, all activities of the department in Greater Bombay are carried through the State sector agency. The District Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies looks after the functioning of the department in Greater Bombay. In his work he is assisted by five Assistant Registrars whose charges have been distributed on functional basis. These Assistant Registrars have been entrusted with the work of consumers' stores, urban credit, housing societies, money-lending, etc.
The Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank functions as the central financing agency. The Greater Bombay District Central Co-operative Bank has been established recently "in 1974. Another district level institution is the Greater Bombay Co-operative Board. The housing societies in the district have their own federation, viz., the Bombay Co-operative Housing Societies Federation Ltd. All housing co-operatives are affiliated to this federation.
The State level apex institutions functioning in the Bombay and Suburban district are the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank Ltd., the Maharashtra State Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank Ltd., the Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Societies Federation Ltd., the Maharashtra Co-operative Housing Finance Societies Federation, the Maharashtra State Co-operative Union Ltd., the Maharashtra State Co-operative Fisheries Society Ltd., the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Sangh Ltd., the Maharashtra State Wholesale Consumers' Co-operative Societies Federation Ltd. and the Brihan Mumbai Doodh Utpadak Sahakari Federation Ltd. (For details refer Chapter 6 of Greater Bombay Gazetteer.)
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STATE TRANSPORT
The nationalisation of passenger road transport was effected in August 1947. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, a statutory body, undertakes the passenger traffic in the State. The bus station and a depot of the MSRTC were under the erstwhile Bombay division, the headquarters of which was situated at Tardeo. Subsequently this headquarters was shifted to Thane in 1957 and the division was renamed as the Thane division. Greater Bombay for the administrative purpose comes under the Thane division. There are two bus depots situated at Bombay Central and Parel.
The operations of the MSRTC were started in the erstwhile Bombay division from April 1950 on 39 routes with a total route length of 1859 km. In 1968 there were 65 vehicles attached to the depot at Bombay. In addition special services are operated by Bombay Central and Parti depots during festivals. Besides regular services, excursion and holiday services are also operated from these depots.
The divisional workshop is situated at Thane where heavy repairs and preventive maintenance are carried out. Regular daily and weekly servicing is carried out at the depot workshop situated at Bombay Central.
For the convenience of travelling public, a modern bus station has been provided at Bombay Central on the ground floor of the central office building. The bus station covers an area of about 1532.90 square metres (16,500 sq. ft.). In addition, reservation rooms, a parcel office, and canteen have also been provided. The bus station at Parel is located in the compound of the former Modern Mills. Pick-up sheds have been provided at Lalbaug, Dadar, King's Circle, Sion and Kurla. (A detailed account of State Transport is given in Chapter 7. Headquarters of the Corporation is at Bombay Central.)
The Corporation also provides welfare facilities to its employees. A recreation hall with facilities fcr indoor games is provided in the main office building. A dispensary has been maintained at Bombay Central.
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FISHERIES DEPARTMENT
Fisheries activities in Greater Bombay are looked after by the District Fisheries Development Officer. In Bombay are situated the offices of Director of Fisheries and the Regional Fisheries Development Officer, Bombay Region. The Director is assisted in his work by two Deputy Directors, two Assistant Directors, Fisheries Education Officer, Planning Officer, Statistical Officer and other staff.
The total potentialities in Greater Bombay for inland fisheries extend over 244 hectares, of which 5.70 hectares are utilised departmentally for pisciculture. There are 56 tanks in the district most of them being seasonal.
In the socio-economic field, efforts are made to bring fishermen in the district under the co-operative fold so as to extend them benefits of different schemes of development and assistance to fishing trade. There are about 4,917 active fishermen engaged in fishing. In addition to these there are about 2,000 allied workers engaged in fishing industry. During 1976-77 there were 15 primary and one apex fisheries co-operative societies. Most of these societies have been established at Worli, Khar Danda, Juhu, Varsova, Madh, Manori and Trombay. Some of these societies owned ice factories, fish transport trucks, shops selling fisheries requisites, etc.
Fisheries Training:—Institutions such as the Central Institute of Fisheries Education and the Fisheries Training Centre situated in Bombay provide educational facilities in fisheries activities. The Fisheries Training Centre at Varsova established in 1955 is under the control of the Fisheries Department. It admits 22 candidates for half yearly course. Upto December 1976, 761 trainees were trained. As per the recommendations of the ad hoc committee on Fisheries Education appointed in 1959, the Government of India established the Central Institute of Fisheries Education at Varsova in 1961 to impart post-graduate instruction in fishery science to district officers deputed by State Government, Central Organisation and Private Organisations concerned with implementation of fishery development programme. Every year, 30 candidates are admitted for the two year's post-graduate diploma course in fishery science. During the period 1961-77, 216 candidates were trained.
Taraporevala Aquarium:—One of the outstanding achievements of the Fisheries Department is the establishment of Taraporevala Aquarium established in 1951 in Bombay at the cost of Rs. 9 lakhs which included a donation of Rs. 3 lakhs from Shri Taraporevala. This aquarium has become an important research institution where investigators get all necessary facilities. It also acquaints the public with the variety and wealth of life in sea thereby stimulating their interest in the development of fishing industry.
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ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT
The Animal Husbandry Department is responsible for prevention and control of contagious diseases in livestock apd for the operation of the Animal Preservation Act, 1948, which does not permit slaughter of useful animal. Other work entrusted to it is the certification of meat for export and certification of damaged foodgrains, unfit for animal consumption and issue of health certificates in respect of birds, small animals and livestock exported from the country.
The office is controlled by the District Animal Husbandry Officer, Bombay who is assisted by four Veterinary Inspectors. He is responsible to the Regional Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry, Bombay.
In Greater Bombay, there are three veterinary aid centres located at Kurla, Jogeshwari and Andheri. Each centre is managed by a Veterinary officer assisted by Livestock Supervisors. All these Veterinary Officers are responsible to the District Animal Husbandry Officer. Under the rinderpest follow up scheme, immunisation of animals against rinderpest is carried out in Greater Bombay and the remaining districts of Bombay region. This scheme is controlled by the Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry with the help of a Veterinary Officer and four Livestock Supervisors. A mobile epizootic control unit at Mulund functions under the Assistant Director which carries out immunisation of animals against various contagious diseases in Greater Bombay and remaining districts of the Bombay region. This unit is managed by the Veterinary Officer with the assistance of four Livestock Supervisors. Another unit, viz., the mucosal control unit managed by the Research Officer is engaged in the control of mucosal diseases, microbial assay of meat and other products. The Gynaecologist, Deonar Abattoir, works under the control of the Regional Deputy Director. He is assisted by two Veterinary Officers in the work of implementation of the Bombay Animal Preservation Act, 1948, and the Bombay Essential Commodities Cattle Control Act, 1958. Under the former Act, useful animals i.e., those fit for draught, milch, young animals likely to be useful are to be prevented from slaughter.
There is a College of Veterinary at Parel which, besides higher education, provides veterinary hospital services. The Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals, opened in 1884, is connected with the College.
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STATE GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKINGS
The State Government has established many public corporations and boards for the proper implementation of activities undertaken for all-round development. These semi-government organisations with their headquarters at Bombay are: Bombay Housing and Area Development Board, Bandra; City Industrial Development Corporation, Nariman Point; Development Corporation of Konkan Ltd., Fort; HafFkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation, Parel; Khadi and Village Industries Board, Fort; Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd., Fort; Maharashtra Agricultural Development and Fertiliser Promotion Corporation Ltd., Fort; Maharashtra Agro-Industries Development Corporation Ltd., Prabhadevi; Maharashtra Aarthic Vikas Mandal, Fort; Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Andheri; Maharashtra Labour Welfare Board, Worli; Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd., Fort; Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd., Masjid; Maharashtra State Farming Corporation, Fort; Maharashtra State Financial Corporation Ltd., Worli; Maharashtra State Oilseeds Commercial and Industrial Corporation Ltd., Masjid; Maharashtra State Police and Welfare Corporation, Fort; Maharashtra State Powerlooms Corporation Ltd., Marine Lines; Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Nariman Point; Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, Bombay Central; Maharashtra State Social Welfare Advisory Board; Maharashtra Warehousing Corporation, Dadar; and State Industrial and Investment Corporation of Maharashtra, Nariman Point.
In the following is given the information of some of the organisations whereas details of rest of the organisations have been given in the respective chapters.
Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation (Details of the Haffkine Institute are given in Chapter 16.): The production activities of the erstwhile Haffkine Institute were taken over by the Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd. which was registered in 1974 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. The Corporation is owned by the Government of Maharashtra.
The corporation undertakes manufacture of biological and pharmaceutical products. The former include antitoxins and sera of tetanus and diphtheria, vaccine, blood products; while the latter comprise vitamin tablets, sulpha tablets, parenteral solution, etc. Nearly ninety per cent of the products go to State Government and Defence forces. It has also started export to Africa, Sri Lanka and the Middle East countries.
After it began to function as an autonomous body, the Corporation launched an ambitious expansion programme and completed parenteral solution project, oral polio vaccine project. It also started a new section for manufacture of injectables. It took over the pyrogen unit of the Small Industries Research Institute, Pune for manufacture of pyrogen free distilled water. A unit located at Pimpri near Pune is under the control of the Corporation where horses are maintained for preparation of anti-toxins and sera.
The Corporation runs a book bank. The principal welfare activities are provided through sports club.
Employees of the Corporation include 17 managers, 128 supervisory staff, 113 ministerial staff, 162 skilled and 476 unskilled labour.
Maharashtra Agro-Industries Development Corporation Ltd.: The Maharashtra Agro-Industries Development Corporation was established in 1965. The activities of the Corporation could be divided into two categories viz., input oriented and output oriented. The manufacture and sale of granulated mixtures, animal feeds, pesticides and supply of tractors are grouped as input-oriented activities. In addition to this the Corporation imparts training to the entrepreneurs under the Government of India schemes. It also deals in distribution of agricultural iron and steel.
Capital base of the Corporation is the equity share capital contributed by the Government of Maharashtra and Government of India in equal proportion. The issued and paid-up capital amounted to Rs. 4 crores as on 31st March 1977. The Corporation has nine manufacturing and four regional agro-service centres spread over the State of Maharashtra. One of the animal feed factories (Sugras) having a capacity of 3,000 m.ts. is located at Goregaon, a suburb of Bombay on the Western Railway. The other animal feed factory is located at Chinchwad in Pune district. Factories located at Karad (Satara district) and Rasayani (Raigad district) are engaged in the manufacture and sale of granulated fertilisers. The Corporation deals in procurement, formulation and distribution of pesticides. Distribution of tractors, agricultural implements, servicing, etc, is undertaken through the four regional centres at Pune, Narik, Jalgaon and Kolhapur. Canning of fruits and vegetables, an output oriented activity, is undertaken through the Noga Factory, Nagpur, which was taken over by the Corporation in 1972.
The total turnover of the Corporation, which in 1973-74 was Rs. 1601.07 lakhs, increased to Rs. 1,895.15 lakhs in 1975-76.
The Board of Directors consists of a chairman and eleven directors.
Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board: The Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board constituted under the Bombay Khadi and Village Industries Act, 1960, extends financial assistance as per pattern laid down by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission to co-operative societies, registered institutions and individuals. It also arranges technical guidance, training to artisans and marketing of their products. The headquarters of the Board is at Bombay, and it functions through the offices situated at district headquarters. The activities in Bombay district are looked after by the office situated at Thane.
Many of the cottage industries coming under the purview of the Board are suitable for rural areas. Even then the Board has established a few cottage industries in a highly industrialised city like Bombay. Their number in 1977 was 31 and belonged to category of oil industry, leather industry, neera palm, gur, soap, handmade paper, fibre, carpentry and blacksmithy, etc. The Board extends financial help to build up share capital, stocks, equipment etc, at the rate of four per cent
Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation: The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation was established in 1962 under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation Act, 1961, to promote and assist the rapid and orderly establishment, growth and development of industries in Maharashtra.
With the exception of Bombay-Pune area, the rest of the State had largely remained industrially underdeveloped. It was necessary to avoid the haphazard development of industries in Bombay and disperse industries away from Bombay. The Corporation since its establishment has made efforts to establish well-planned industrial areas in as many as 35 cities and towns including Maroland transThane creek in Bombay-Thane region. It provides all facilities such as roads, water supply, power and drainage. It has also constructed industrial sheds for the new entrepreneurs, the number of which stood at 260 in 1973-74. It spent Rs. 14.74 crores on development of industrial areas and Rs. 20.23 crores on execution of major water supply schemes.
Maharashtra Labour Welfare Board: The Maharashtra Labour Welfare Board, a statutory body constituted under the Bombay Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1953, conducts welfare activities for the industrial labour outside the factory premises. These activities are now conducted in over 75 industrial towns and cities including Bombay in the State through labour welfare centres. These centres include lalit kala bhavans, vishishta kendras and welfare centres.
The labour welfare activities include community and social education, community welfare like shishu sanskar shalas and shishu mandirs, games and sports, tours, entertainment, household industries and subsidiary occupations for women and unemployed persons. During 1977 there were 37 labour welfare centres in Greater Bombay.
Maharashtra State Social Welfare Advisory Board: The Maharashtra State Social Welfare Advisory Board was established in 1960 to take up the responsibility of effective supervision and direction of social welfare programmes formerly entrusted to the Central Welfare Board.
The programme of the Board consists of various schemes such as family and child welfare services, pre-school project in urban areas, urban welfare extension project, condensed courses, holiday homes, foster care homes, general grant-in-aid programmes and special nutrition programme. Assistance is given to individuals and institutions for undertaking welfare activities sponsored by the Board. In order to provide technical information to the workers in the field and to give publicity to its programmes it publishes a monthly journal.
The Board is provided with a staff of 30 persons and the expenditure is shared by the Central Social Welfare Board and the State Government. During 1975-76, grants sanctioned on various programmes of the Board amounted to Rs. 8,941,927. The grant-in-aid institutions in the entire State numbered 1,166 including 84 mahila mandals.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OFFICES
Bombay being the State capital and an advanced trade and industrial centre many regional and important offices of the Government of India are situated here. These offices are: Accountant General, Bombay-20; All India Handloom Board, Bombay-20; All India Radio, Bombay-20; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay-39; Banking Laws Committee, Bombay-6; Central Bureau of Investigation, Bombay-39; Central Excise Collectorate, Bombay-20; Central Food Technological Research Institute, Bombay-58; Central Government Health Scheme, Bombay-1; Central Industrial Security Force, Bombay-71; Central Institute of Fisheries, Bombay-61; Central Poultry Breeding Farm, Bombay-64; Central Silk Board, Bombay-2; Central Telegraphs, Bombay-23; Commission of Inquiry on Large Industrial Houses, Bombay-1; Company Law Board, Bombay-2; Cotton Development Directorate, Bombay-1; Cotton Technology Research Laboratory, Bombay-19; Customs Collectorate, Bombay-38; Dock Safety Inspectorate, Bombay-1; Drugs Controller, Bombay-1; Economics and Statistics Directorate, Bombay-20; Education and Social Welfare, Regional Office, Bombay-20; Emergency Risk Insurance Scheme, Bombay-1 ; Employees Provident Fund, Bombay-51; Enforcement Directorate, Bombay-1; Export Inspection Council of India, Bombay-4; Export Promotion Directorate, Bombay-20; Factory Advice Service and Labour Institute, Bombay-22; Family Planning Training and Research Centre, Bombay-4; Film Censors Central Board, Bombay-6; Film Division, Bom-bay-26; Food Department, Bombay-2; Forward Market Commission, Bombay-2; Handicrafts Board, Bombay-1; Import and Export Trade Control, Bombay-20; Income Tax Department and Appellate Tribunal, Bombay-20; Indian Navy (Western Naval Command), Bombay; Indian Space Research Organisation, Bombay-5; Indian Standards Institution, Bombay-7; Iron and Steel Controller, Bombay-20; Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Bombay-56; Labour Commissioner (Central), Bombay-38; Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Bombay-20; Leather Research Institute, Bombay-17; Minor Ports Survey Organisation, Ballard Estate, Bombay-1; Naval Apprenticeship Programme, Bombay-70; National Dairy Research Institute, Bombay-65; National Savings Organisation, Bombay-1; Official Liquidator, Bombay-1; Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Bombay-21; Overseas Communication Service, Bombay-1; Passport and Emigration, Bom-bay-25; Postmaster General, Bombay-30; Press Information Bureau, Bombay-1; Railways (Central), Bombay-1; Railways (Western), Bombay-20; Registrar of Companies, Bombay-2; Shipping Directorate, Bombay-1; Small Industries Service Institute, Bombay-72; Supplies and Disposals, Directorate, Bombay-38; Supplies (Textile) Directorate, Bombay-20; Tariff Commission, Bombay-2; Telecommunication Maintenance, Bombay-23; Telecommunication (Maharashtra Circle), Bombay-30; Telephones, Bombay-5; Television Centre, Bombay-25; Textile Commissioner, Bombay-20; Textile Committee, Bombay-18; Directorate of Tourism, Bombay-20; and Trade Mark Registry, Bombay-20.
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FOREIGN CONSULATES
Offices of Consulate Generals of many countries are established in Bombay. The list of such offices is given below :—
Designation |
Country representing |
Location |
| |
|
|
Consulate |
Haiti |
Bombay-26 |
| |
Iceland |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Indonesia |
Bombay-26 |
| |
Israel |
Bombay-26 |
| |
Nicaragua |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Panama |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Peru |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Poland |
Bombay-6 |
| |
Yemen |
Bombay-5 |
Consulate General |
Afghanistan |
Bombay-6 |
| |
Australia |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Austria |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Baharain |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Belgium |
Bombay-25 |
| |
Costa
Rica |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Czechoslovakia |
Bombay-26 |
| |
Denmark |
Bombay-38 |
| |
Dominican Republic |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Egypt |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Ethiopia |
Bombay-1 |
| |
France |
Bombay-1 |
| |
German
Federal Republic |
Bombay-20 |
| |
German
Democratic Republic |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Greece |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Iraq |
Bombay-6 |
| |
Italy |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Japan |
Bombay-62 |
|
Kuwait |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Mauritius |
Bombay-5 |
| |
Netherlands |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Norway |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Philippines |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Sudan |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Sweden |
Bombay-38 |
| |
Switzerland |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Syria |
Bombay-20 |
| |
Thailand |
Bombay-1 |
| |
Turkey |
Bombay-20 |
| |
United Arab Emirates |
Bombay-5 |
| |
U.S.A. |
Bombay-26 |
| |
U.S.S.R. |
Bombay-6 |
| |
Yugoslavia |
Bombay-20 |
Deputy Commissioner |
United Kingdom |
Bombay-23 |
Imperial Consulate General |
Iran |
Bombay-20 |
Royal
Jordan Consulate |
Jordan |
Bombay-20 |
Vice Consulate |
Spain |
Bombay-20 |
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