Purnea Town
Purnea Town, 1908
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, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Head-quarters of Purnea District, Bengal, situated in 25° 46' N. and 87° 28' E., on the east bank of the Saura river. The population in 1901 was 14,007 ; but it has declined steadily for many years, owing to the unhealthiness consequent on the silting up of the Kali Kosi river, which was once the bed of the Great Kosi. Purnea was constituted a municipality in 1864. The income during the decade ending 1901-2 averaged Rs. 22,000, and the expenditure was Rs. 19,000, a portion of which was devoted to a drainage scheme. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 35,000, of which Rs. 14,000 was de- rived from a tax on houses and lands and Rs. 5,000 from a conser- vancy rate ; and the expenditure was Rs. 28,000. The town contains the usual public offices. The District jail has accommodation for 246 prisoners; and the principal jail industries are the manufacture of carpers and mats, mustard oil, oil cake, and newar or coarse tape. The products are disposed of locally, except the newar which is sent to the Buxar Central jail.
