( 23A ) 



It now only remains to make definite recommendations for 

 the consideration of the Local Government. The Collector has as- 

 sured me that there is not the slightest hope of securing any im- 

 provement in the existing state of affairs by private agency. It may 

 be mentioned here that the management by private agency of the 

 Fisher forest, which is said to have been in a most flourishing 

 condition, has resulted disastrously. The zamindars of the district 

 will not incur any expenditure or forego any present advantages 

 for the sake of future improvement. The undertaking is beyond 

 the scope of the District Board or the Court of Wards, but is 

 essentially one to be handled by the Forest department. It is 

 imperative to make the zamindars and cultivators understand that 

 the scheme is intimately connected with the improvement of 

 agriculture and amelioration of a highly precarious tract, and every 

 effort should be made to secure their co-operation in the execution 

 of the project ; but I am convinced that success can only be achieved 

 by the acquisition by Government of the whole of the ravine tract 

 of the district with, perhaps, the exception of the narrow strip of 

 ravines along the Sengar river, which are situated at some distance 

 from the main mass and are of somewhat different character. In 

 my opinion it would be unwise to take up anything less than the 

 whole tract. In a matter of this magnitude, which embodies a 

 general scheme of policy, it is most desirable that there should 

 be uniformity by treatment. Moreover, it is only by treating the 

 whole tract at one time that it will be possible to demonstrate 

 thoroughly and at the same time economically the benefits that will 

 result from the scheme. 



The initial cost of acquisition would not be great- The intrin- 

 sic value of ravine land cannot be more than Ke. 1 per acre 

 plus the value of the very sparse tree-growth. At an outside figure 

 the value of the best ravine land would not exceed Rs. 5 per acre, 

 and since by far the greater portion of the tract is absolutely devoid 

 of tree-growth it will be perfectly safe to assume that the cost 

 will not exceed Rs. 2,50,000, while it is probable that after demar- 

 cation of the area it will prove to be even less. 



I would strongly urge then the advisability of the acquisition 

 by Government of the whole of this ravine tract and the forma- 

 tion of a forest division, and, though, of course, it is not yet 

 possible to work out detailed plan of management, I think it may 

 be as well to roughly outline a scheme in case the Local Govern- 

 ment may agree to rny recommendation. 



It has already been suggested that the first duty of the forest 

 officer in charge of the proposed division will be to improve the 

 growth of grass and in any plan for the working of the division, 



