4
VITAL STATISTICS AND SANITATION IN RAJPUTANA.
26. The shortage of sweepers is a cause of grave anxiety and hindrance to
the work. Their ranks have been further depleted by the epidemics of plague
and malaria which have visited Ajmer during 1917.
27. Several absorption pits have been constructed as an experimental
measure for dealing with surplus water from hydrants and other sources : the
results, so far, are encouraging.
28. A large part of the expenditure on sanitation is incurred in carting
sullage water gratuitously from the houses of citizens up hill to the tramway
terminus. Surface drainage of the city and suburbs is urgently required and
a conservancy tax should be introduced, to be paid by all householders, to
enable the Conservancy Sub-Committee to deal efficiently with sanitary
matters.
29. I would strongly urge that an officer of the Indian Medical Service be
appointed to Ajmer, who would be of much assistance to the Civil Surgeon and
enable that officer to attend to the medical and sanitary wants of the Ajmer¬
Merwara District: and not the least important of his duties would be attention
to the practical sanitation of Ajmer for which he should receive a Municipal
allowance at least equivalent to the salary formerly paid to so-called Assistant
Health Officers who have generally been super-annuated Sub-Assistant
Surgeons of little use in Public Health Matters.
Water supply.
30. On account of heavy and continuous rain the Foy Sagar, Ana Sagar,
Bhaonta and Budha Pushkar which are
the main sources of water supply to the
City and Railway workshops filled to overflowing.
31. The wells, Baoris, and Jhalras in the city and suburbs are also well
filled.
32. Beawar. —The supply of drinking water in the Jalia Tank is ample
for the whole year.
33. The sanitary arrangements are in the same condition as in 1916.
34. The Commissioner, Ajmer-Merwara reports that rules for the
improvement of village sanitation were restricted to the same villages as last
year.
NATIVE STATES.
35. Jaipur.—For all conservancy purposes the Light Railway performs
valuable work. Rubbish and City sweepings are burnt in incinerators. The
foul earth and sweepings were deposited in the Gandah Nallah, only a part
having been used up in filling pits in some private fields.
36. 65 Latrines were newly constructed and 419 old latrines were repaired.
37. Mayo Hospital Well.—The Jhiri well in the Hospital compound was
deepened to the extent of 23 feet.
38. Jaipur has an excellent drinking water supply obtained from a series
of wells in a river bed and pumped through pipes to the City ; there is also a
good well water supply which is carefully supervised.
39. Jodhpur.—The City Conservancy Steam Tramway worked satisfactorily.
Owing to heavy and continuous rainfall all tanks and wells in Jodhpur City
and in the districts received an ample water supply.
40. Bikaner.—The sanitation of the City is under the care of the
Municipality, of which the Principal Medical Officer is a member and the
President of the Sanitary Sub-Committee.
41. Kotah.—The
following improvements have been made in the
conservancy arrangements of Kotah City :—
(1) Eight rubbish carts and three urine carts were added to the
conservancy stock.
(2) Thirty-one receptacles were purchased for nightsoil.
(3) One Pakka Latrine for males with 37 seats and two Pakka Latrines
for females with 33 seats were built to replace old ones which
were dismantled.