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Sanitary Board, it appears that (exclusive of Calcutta) there are at present in
the Province 19 municipalities possessing water-works on a more or less
elaborate scale, which serve a population of rather over half a million, and the
total capital cost of which, up to the 31st December 1910, was approximately
Rs. 48 lakhs. Although much still remains to be done in this direction, it is
obvious that a substantial beginning has been made towards the proper equip-
ment of the towns in Bengal in this respect, the more so when it
is remembered that the majority of these installations were constructed
since the commencement of the century. It is estimated, moreover, that
in two years the quantity of filtered water supplied to the inhabitants
of municipalities in Bengal will be increased by about 75 per cent.
Thirteen drainage schemes were under examination during the year at
Bhagalpur, Graya, Sahibganj, Azimganj, Kushtia, Motihari, Ranchi, North.
Barrackpore, Bhadreswar, Asansol, Manicktolla, Chapra and Purulia, while
drainage projects at Howrah, Puri, Arrah, Daltonganj, Bhatpara, Baranagore,
Budge-Budge, Basirhat, Baraset and Baruipur were under construction. In
four cases Hazaribagh, Berhampore, Burdwan and Monghyr tenders have
been called for. From the figures furnished it appears that outside Calcutta)
20 towns are provided with drainage works of varying degrees of completeness,
upon which a capital expenditure of about Rs. 16¼ lakhs has been incurred,
up to the 31st December 1910. Many of these are still in progress, but the
record is by no means insignificant, and the Lieutenant-Governor in Council
notices with pleasure the report of the Sanitary Board that greater progress
has been achieved, during the year under review, in the preparation of schemes
of water supply and drainage (particularly the former) than was ever the case
before in the annals of the Board. A specially liberal provision has been
made during the current year for grants-in-aid to these projects, and it behoves
local bodies to bestir themselves to establish a claim to assistance, by demons-
trating that they are willing, on their part, to contribute towards the improve-
ment of the areas in their charge.

16. The thanks of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council are due to Major
Clemesha and to the Sanitary Board for their energetic administration of the
Department. The work of Captain Ross, I.M.S., Deputy Sanitary Commis-
sioner, Bihar and Chota Nagpur, is also particularly commended.

                  By order of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council,

                                                                        H. WHEELER,

                                                        Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.

                                    No. 1353 San.

COPY forwarded to the Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, for information.

                                Nos. 1354-57 San.

COPY, with copies of the reports referred to, forwarded to the

Bengal, for information.

Circular No. 43 San.

COPY, with copies of the reports referred to, forwarded to all Commissioners
of Divisions for information and for communication to all District Officers in
their respective Divisions.

                  By order of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

                                                                        M. G. HALLETT,

                                               Offg. Under-Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.

    CALCUTTA ;

The 24th July 1911.

B. S. Press—25-7-1911—2351 C—2,183—S. W.