Bankura Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Bankura Town
Head-quarters of Bankura District, Bengal, situ- ated in 23 14/ N. and 87 4' E., on the north bank of the Dhalkisor river. The population in 1901 was 20,737, of whom 19,553 were Hindus, 993 Muhammadans, and 158 Christians. Bankura is said to be named after an early settler named Banku Rai, whose descendants still reside in the town. The climate is dry and very healthy. The town lies on the grand trunk road from Calcutta to the north-west.
The newly-constructed Midnapore-Jherria branch of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway passes through it, and a direct line from Howrah is con- templated. Tasar silk is largely manufactured. Considerable trade is carried on, the chief exports being rice, oilseeds, lac, cotton and silk cloth, silk cocoons, &c, and the imports English piece-goods, salt, tobacco, spices, coco-nuts, and pulses. Bankura was constituted a municipality in 1869. The income during the decade ending 1901-2 averaged Rs. 13,000, and the expenditure Rs. 12,000.
In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 20,000, a third of which was derived from a tax on persons (or property tax) ; and the expenditure was Rs. 14,000. The town contains the usual public offices. The District jail has accommodation for 309 prisoners, the chief industries being mustard-oil pressing, brick-making, darl and cloth-weaving, and cane and bamboo work. A leper asylum built in 1902 is administered by the Wesleyan Mission ; it has accommodation for 72 inmates.
