About Ichalkaranji

Ichalkaranji (Hatkanangale T.; 16° 40' N; 74° 25' E; p. 27,423; a 8.7 square miles), lies in the Pancaganga valley about eighteen miles east of Kolhapur and half a mile north of the river. It is six miles south-east of Hatkanangale railway station. The town is said to be formed of seven hamlets. The climate is healthy, but the water of the wells is brackish. Every year in October a large fair attended by 2,000 people is held in honour of God Vyankates. On the 24th and 25th of Safar a Muhamma-dan fair or urus, attended by about 1,000 people from ten to twenty miles round, is held in honour of Makhdum Pir and Dari Pir.

Area and Population.

Of the total population of 27,423 according to the Census figures of 1951, the agricultural classes number 6,831 and the non-agricultural classes 20,592. Of the latter, 11,786 persons derive their principal means of livelihood from production other than cultivation; 2,530 persons from commerce; 359 persons from transport; and 5,917 persons from other services and miscellaneous sources. [There is something wrong with the figures given in the Kolhapur Census Hand Book. The total for both the agricultural and non-agricultural classes amounts to 27, 182 whereas the total population is given as 27, 423.]

Municipality.

The civic affairs of the town are managed by a municipality established in 1893 and now functioning under the Bombay Municipal Boroughs Act (XVIII) of 1925. The Municipality area covers 7.59 square miles. The municipal council is composed of 20 members all elected. Two of the seats are reserved for women and one for the Scheduled Castes. There are five municipal committees, viz., the Standing Committee and committees for public health, public works, octroi and law. The Chief Executive Officer is at the head of the administrative organization. In 1954-55, the total income of the municipality, excludng extraordinary and debt heads, was Rs. 3,93,961, composed of municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 2,92,139; realisation under special Acts, Rs. 386; revenue derived from municipal property and powers apart from taxation, Rs. 26,110; miscellaneous, Rs. 22,421; and grants and contribution Rs. 52,905. The total expenditure in the same year amounted to Rs. 3,86,069, of which Rs. 72,103 was incurred under general administration and collection charges; Rs. 25,932 under public safety (i.e., conservancy roads, etc.); Rs. 15,784, under public instruction; Rs. 150 under contributions; and miscellaneous, Rs. 1,783.

Municipal Services.

There is a Government dispensary and maternity home in the town. The municipality has recently resolved to take over this dispensary under its control, and Government orders are awaited (February 1956). Government also maintains a veterinary dispensary in the town, for which the municipality does not give any contribution. There are no special drainage works for the town. There are two open and roadside gutters. The total length of drains is 1,20,000 feet, out of these, about 30,000 feet are half-round and pucca built; the rest are stone-lined and Kachha drains. Water is supplied to the town from pipes connected to a reservoir to which water is raised from the Pancaganga by means of mechanical pumps. There is a new scheme of water supply, estimated to cost ten lakhs of rupees, which the municipality has submitted to Government for administrative approval. The municipality has already earmarked two lakhs of rupees for the scheme. An underground drainage scheme is also under consideration to be put into operation when the new water supply scheme is completed. Compulsory primary education in the town is managed by the Kolhapur District School Board, the municipality paying its statutory contribution. The municipality maintains a firefighter and a fighter-tractor, but there is no qualified staff to operate them. The total length of roads maintained by the municipality is 14¾ miles, 2 miles of which are asphalted and 4½ miles metalled, and 8¼ miles unmetalled. A municipal market estimated to cost Rs. 52,000 is under construction (February 1956). A library named Apte Vacan Mandir receives annual grants from the municipality.

Burial Places.

The burial places in the town are all under the management of private institutions. There are three for Muslims, one for Mahars, one for Lingayats and one cremation ground for Hindus. The municipality maintains a public park named Sundar Bag.

The palace of the Jahagirdar of Icalkaranji is an object of interest in the town.