4
spread formation of Union Committees and the free exercise of their powers
of local taxation that the Governor in Council sees the best prospect of
material improvement in village sanitation. At the same time, he agrees
with the Sanitary Commissioner that, although it is probable that permanent
results can only be achieved in this way, much immediate improvement,
which will also have an educative value, can be attained through the personal
interest and initiative of district officials.
16. Owing to financial conditions, there was an inevitable decrease in the
expenditure on sanitary engineering works in the Presidency during the year
1915. The total amounted to Rs. 7,30,390, as against Rs. 9,64,571 during
the previous year, the greater part of the expenditure being, as before,
devoted to water-supply. No waterworks scheme was actually completed,
but those of Bankura and Chittagong were brought near to completion.
Drainage schemes were completed at Kurseong, Baruipur and Kushtia, and
progress was also made with schemes for Burdwan, Katwa and Bhadreswar.
The Governor in Council keenly regrets the inevitable check to the progress
of sanitary engineering works which is caused by the present financial situa-
tion. He has been obliged to husband the provincial resources carefully and
scrupulously, and the result is that, except in cases of the greatest urgency,
no grant or loan can be made at present by Government towards new works.
At the same time the rise in the prices of materials, especially iron-work and
machinery, has rendered it necessary to postpone schemes which, but for the
war, would in all probability have been initiated or under construction.
17. Sanitary Officers.—During the year 1915 the Bengal Sanitary
Officers Act was brought into force by notifications prescribing the appoint-
ment of Sanitary Officers by municipalities in the Chittagong, Burdwan,
Rajshahi and Dacca Divisions. A similar notification has since been publish-
ed for the Presidency Division, and all but the smallest municipalities are now
under a legal obligation to maintain one or more Sanitary Officers. Rules
prescribing the qualifications of Health Officers and Sanitary Inspectors for
municipalities have been finally published, and those for District Boards are
under consideration.
18. Staff.—Lt. Col. W. W. Clemesha, I.M.S., was in charge of the office
of Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, up to the 10th April 1915, when he was
appointed to act as Sanitary Commissioner to the Government of India.
He was relieved by Dr. C. A. Bentley. M.B., D.P.H., Special Officer on Malaria
Research Work, who held charge up to the end of the year. The staff of
Deputy Sanitary Commissioners had to be reduced owing to the war, and it
was only possible to employ one whole-time officer. It is hoped that the
appointment of temporary officers since the close of 1915 to officiate for the
absent Deputy Sanitary Commissioners will allow of the resumption of much
necessary work, especially the periodical inspection of municipalities.
Mr. A. G. Maflin, Assistant Sanitary Engineer, officiated as Sanitary
Engineer until 1st March, during the absence, on leave, of Mr. G. B. Williams,
who held charge for the remainder of the year.
19. The thanks of the Governor in Council are due to Colonel Clemesha,
Dr. Bentley, Mr. Williams and Mr. Maflin for their efficient administration of the
departments of the Sanitary Commissioner and the Sanitary Engineer during
their respective tenures of office. The Governor in Council looks forward
with much interest to the outcome of the research work on malaria in which
Dr. Bentley has been engaged, and desires to express his appreciation of the
beneficial results of Mr. Williams' work.
By order of the Governor in Council,
L. S. S. O'MALLEY,
Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.