16
50. I have, in paragraph 41, stated the position where, in my opinion, the
cremation of dead bodies alone should be allowed, and regulations should be enforc
-ed regarding the places where dhobies should wash their clothes; they should,
of course, be below the point where the water-supply is now drawn.
51. The existing hollows around the city should be reclaimed with broken
tiles, &c., collected in the town. The Secretary has done good work in filling
in a swamp just outside the Raipur Gate in this way; and the potters should be
made to cut away the earth to a flat surface.
52. The sanitary provisions of the District Municipal Act can, of course,
only be enforced by a Magistrate. There have been no prosecutions under it or
any other law, as, since 1873 to 30th April 1875, there was no Magistrate avail
-able before whom the cases could be heard; and I am informed that the gentleman
now holding the post draws no salary for his services; but that there is great need
of a Magistrate will have been seen; and in my opinion it is imperative that the
carrying out of these provisions should be entrusted to a duly qualified Health
Officer, who should have charge of the scavenging and halalcore establishments,
and all matters pertaining to the public health. There is a great want of
lime-washing in the interiors of houses in the city, and he could effect much good
by insisting on the periodical application of lime to them, and in putting the law
in force with respect to offenders against the sanitary clauses of the Act.
53. The bye-law passed by the Municipality regarding the registration
of births is a good example of how not to do it. Instead of insisting on the parent
or guardian of the new-born child giving information to the officer in charge of
the nearest police-station within 48 hours next after the birth, it merely insists
on these persons giving information of the birth on being required so to do by the
officer in charge of the nearest police-station, or by an officer of the Municipality,
in this way at least 12 or 13 births per 1,000 escape registration, but the Muni
-cipal Commissioners should also pass bye-laws regarding the registration of
deaths under Section 72 of the Act, and regulations should be enforced as to the
depth of graves. Every graveyard and cremation-ghát should be registered, and
the person in charge should be compelled to keep a correct account of the num
-ber of bodies disposed of, and to furnish a record of the necessary particulars
regarding each death to the Health Officer.
54. It would materially help to improve the ventilation of the town if the
barrier to perflation caused by the city wall was removed. For purposes of
defence, I need not say, they are utterly useless; but I am informed there would
be strong opposition made to this proposal by the people who believe in the
security they are said to afford. The ground at their base is fouled by the resi
-dents in the vicinity, who use it as a urinal, if not for baser purposes; and, from a
sanitary point of view, the walls are decidedly objectionable. In order to ventilate
the dense parts of the town, thoroughfares should be made from west to
east; and if a broad road were made from Chundla Ole to Panchkowa, Gate, there
would be a splendid ventilating avenue extending from the Bhuddar along the
Karanj, through the Teen Durwaza and market place, through the densely po
-pulated zillah of Karuya. I believe this line of road was devised, but it was not,
as it ought to have been, carried into execution. Advantage should be taken on
every occasion to widen the streets, which, especially in the poles, are, in some
instances, very narrow; and the line of each street should be carefully determined
upon and strictly adhered to, and whenever a house is re-built, its line of plinth
should be set back to it. I may mention an instance of past mismanagement
I saw in the main road leading to the Sháhpur Gate. The breadth of the road
-way is 22 feet wide, when it is suddenly narrowed to 12 feet by persons having
been permitted to build their houses on to the road. Again, a very crowded
thoroughfare leading from Astoria Road to the Chundla Ole, is only 16 feet broad,
and as the houses on each side are high, there can be but little ventilation.
Several of the roads require making. Metal is not to be had except at ruinous