A Revenue History of the Sundarbans From 1870 To 1920

Description

Frank David Ascoli’s Revenue History of Sundarbans during the Period 1870- 1920 looks at the area bounded on the north by the limits of Permanent Settlement in 24-Parganas, Khulna and Bakarganj districts and on the south by the sea face stretching from the Hughli estuary to the mouth of the Meghna River. A quarter of this large area consisted of water out of 19,501 sq. km. For administrative purposes the Division was grouped in three circles known as the Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira. Revenue stations were established at all the principal points of egress from the Sundarbans, and purchasers proceed to the forests and take their requirements from any locality they choose. The process of land formation appears to have been followed by the growth of different vegetation and plants which turned into forest it left uncleared. The entire Sundarban tract is managed by the Forest Department, which has operated a yearly auction for cutting rights for many decades. In this way the Sundarbans emerged between the Bay of Bengal and the fringes of the Bengal delta. The revenue history of the Sundarbans is distinct from that of the rest of the district that presents several peculiar features, so that a separate account of it is necessary. It is apparent that some of the most forbidding remnants of Sundarbans jungle were transformed into fertile rice fields, schools, dispensaries, post offices, markets and cooperative societies. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface to the Second Edition Introduction A Revenue History of the Sundarbans from 1870 to 1920 Preface to the First Edition Chapter I: Introductory Part I Rules and Administrative System from 1870 to 1920 Chapter II: Forest Grant Rules from 1870 to 1879 Chapter III: Forest Grant Rules from 1879 to 1902 Chapter IV: Forest Grant Rules Period of Transition (1902 to 1905) Chapter V: Forest Grant Rules from 1905 to 1920 Chapter VI: Abolition of the Offices of the Commissioner in the Sundarbans Part II (A) Administration and Development from 1870 to 1903 Chapter VII: Creation of Reserved and Protected Forests Chapter VIII: Development from 1870 to 1903 Part II (B) Administration and Development from 1903 to 1920 Chapter IX: The Bākarganj Sundarbans: Survey and Settlement Operations Chapter X: The Bākarganj Sundarbans: The Colonization Scheme Chapter XI: The Khulnā Sundarbans Chapter XII: The 24-Parganās Sundarbans: General Chapter XIII: The 24-Parganās Sundarbans: Fraserganj Chapter XIV: The 24-Parganās Sundarbans: Sagar Islands Chapter XV: The Problem of the Sundarbans Appendix A Index Maps