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Home , Barshi, Barshi Taluka, Karmala Taluka, Mangalwedha, North Solapur, Pune division

CHAPTER 1 Introductory CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

Solapur is one of the important city from the time of the Satavahanas but this city never reached to a position of capital during period of Satavahanas. Rastrakutas,

Chalukyas, Yadavas, Bahamani and Adilshahi. During the Adilshahi, and British period this city was an important military centre. Even city and district has played important role in the Freedom Movement of . Eventhough, it was not a capital city,

Solapur remained as an important trade centre as it is connected with and

Andhra Pradesh. This important trade position of the city played a vital role for the development of city and district. Here an attempt has been made to study the Ancient

History of by using original sources such as inscription and other secondary sources.

Before we study past glorious history of Solapur area it is not wrong to describe the geographical and climatic conditions of Solapur. Solapur district is divided into eleven talukas for administrative purpose which consisted of 1110 villages and ten towns. The area which now forms the Solapur district was formerly a part of , and

Satara districts. tehsil was the part of . was in Pune and and Sangola were in district. and Solapur were frequently changed between Admednagar and Pune districts. The Sub Coliectorates of

Solapur was formed under Ahmednagar district in 1838. The Solapur district was formed in 1838 and was consisted of the eight sub-divisions' namely Solapur, Barshi, Mohol,

1 Gazetteer of India, State: Solapur District Gazetteer Second Ed. 1977, p.2 Madha, Karmala, lndi, Hippargi and Muddebihal. At present after many changes it is consisted of eleven tehsil namely: (1) , (2) , (3) Barshi, (4)

Pandharpur, (5) Sangola, (6) , (7) Mohol, (8) , (9) Malshiras, (10)

Karmala and (11) Madha.

The researcher has taken into consideration the districts at two levels i.e., at tehsil level and at city level. The author has concentrated his attention specifically on urban areas of the Solapur district. As per 1991 census the district has 10 classified cities namely: (1)

Solapur, (2) Barshi, (3) Pandharpur, (4) Akkalkot, (5)Sangola, (6) Mangalwedha, (7)

Kurduwadi, (8) Karmala, (9) Madha and (10) Malshiras.

The Solapur district is one of the five districts of situated on the

South east fringe of the Maharashtra state. The Solapur district lies entirely in the Bhima,

Sina, and Man basins. The latitudinal extent of the Solapur district is 17 16’ North to

18° 32’ North and the longitudinal extent of it is of 74° 42’ east to 76° 15’ east. It covers an area of 15,021 square Kms. and has a population of 3224034 as per 1991 census. It ranks 6th in area and 7th in population amongst the 30 districts in the state.2

With the re-organisation of states in 1956, the district was included in the and since 1960 it became a part of Maharashtra. At the time of 1991 census, the district comprised on 11 talukas which in themselves included 1110 inhabited villages and

10 towns during the decade 1981-91 there was no jurisdictional changes till the reference

date of first March 1991. There has been certain changes as to the number of villages

within the tehsils during the decade of 1971-81 eight villages from Barshi tehsil transferred

3 Census oflndia, Maharashtra State: Solapur district. 1991.

-2- to tehsil of and Sangola tehsil of added in the Solapur district 1961. The new villages added in the districts and tehsils during 1981-91. Eight villages gathered in the north Solapur tehsils, Barshi tehsils added the two villages

Akkalkot tehsil added the nine villages. South Solapur tehsil added the two villages.

Mangalwedha tehsil added the two villages.

Pandharpur tehsil added the two villages, Sangola tehsil added the fifteen villages.

Malshiras tehsil added the six villages with the upgrading of hamlets / wadis in the district.

The number of villages have gone up to 1110 including 6 uninhabited, whereas the number of towns in the district remains the same as therein.3

ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF SOLAPUR

Solapur is generally pronounced as Solapur. The word Solapur seems to be derived from the word ‘Sola’ meaning sixteen and ‘pur’ meaning villages. It is said that

Solapur is consisted of sixteen villages. Earlier these were as follows: (1) Adilpur, (2)

Ahmaddpur, (3) Chapladev, (4) Fatepur, (5) Jamdarwadi, (6) Kaljapur, (7) Khadrapur, (8)

Khanderavkiwadi, (9) Muhammadpur, (10) Ranapur, (11) Sandalapur, (12) Shaikpur, (13)

Solapur, (14) Sonalgi, (15) Sonapur and (16) Vaikawadi.4

However, the research indicates that the name of Solapur or Sholapur is derived not from the congregation of sixteen villages. There is an evidence that the inscription of

Shivyogi Shri of the time of Kalchuris of Kalyani that the town was called

Sonnalge and this town was known as Somra/agi up to the time of Yadavas. A

3 Ibid. 4 Jakkal V.N.: History of Solapur city (Solapur 1927) (Marathi), p.4.

-3- inscription dated 1316 A.D. found at Kamati in Mohol taluka shows that this town was known as Sonalipur.5 He was a Guana-Yogi Siddharama, a native of Sonnalige (Modern

Solapur) was another great writer of Vachanas. He was a Karma-Yogi 6 One of the inscriptions found in Solapur fort shows that the town was called Sonalapur. It is therefore most probable that during the course of time the name Solapur was evolved by dropping

‘Na’ from the 1 Sonalapur’. During the British period the administrators pronounced and spelt Solapur or Sholapur. Today again it is pronounced and spelt as Solapur.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

No archaeological excavations have yet been undertaken anywhere in the Solapur district. We have no definite knowledge of the pre-historical and post-historical periods of this area. But from excavations carried out by the Deccan College Post Graduate and

Research Institute Pune, of Jorwe and Nevasa in the adjoining districts of Admednagar, we can glean infonnation about pre-historical and post-historical periods. This may be equally same in respect of the Solapur district. From these excavations it appears that the first man began to live in central Maharashtra in the early Paleolithic period (circa 150,000 1 B.C.) We know mere about the next Chalcolitic period (circa 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C.) This period is marked by refined michroliths-trapezes lunates and two edged blades of cheroot and chalcedony in association with an ochre-washed orange coloured pottery occasionally painted with red or black bands.

5 Gazetteer of India. Maharashtra State: Solapur district. 1977, p. 1. 6 Basavaraja (Dr.) K.R.: History and culture of Karnataka, p.565.

-4- The central part of the Deccan was divided into several countries known by different names. The region on the north of the Godavari, now included in the district was known by the name of Malwa. This country together with its capital

Pratishana is mentioned in the Pali literature Pralishthana (Modem Paithan) in the

Aurangabad district, later became the capital of the Satavahanas. To the north of Malwa lay the country of Rishika now called . Along the southern bank of the Godavari extended the country of Ashmaka {Pali Assaka) and Malwa which comprised the modem

Ahmednagar and Bhir districts. Later this country came to be included in Kuntala which extended to the south. In early times Kuntala was probably included in the larger country called Maharashtra, comprised the Satara and Solapur districts. These districts later on came to be known as Manadesha which is named in some records of the age of Yadavas.

Coming to historical times, we find that this country was included in the empire of

Ashoka. After the overthrown of the Maurya dynasty in Circa 187 B.C. The imperial throne in Pataliputra was occupied by Senapati Pushyamitra, the founder of the Shunga dynasty.

Vidarbha was then ruled by Yajanasena who had imprisoned his cousin

Madhavasena, who was a rival claimant. Agnimitra intervened in this dispute and divided the country between the two cousins. They probably were the feudatories of the

Satvahanas.7 The historical background of Solapur district is not traceable but it is said that it was under the rule of Satvahanas. Andhra Bhrutya in 90 B.C. to 300 A.D whose capital was Paithan. After Andhra Bhrutya it was under regime of Chalukya upto 760

1 Maharashtra State Gazetteer: Solapur district, p.38. A.D. Rashtrakuta upto 973 A.D. Upto 1184 A D. Solapur district. Again in the kingdom of later Chalukya and then the kingdom of Yadhavas of Devagiri. Due to defeat of

Yadavas of Devgiri Solapur city had come under the Muslim regime Bhamani upto 1375 whose capital was Bahamini . Bahamani regime became weak in due course and then Adilshahi was established at and Nizamshahi at Ahmednagar and Solapur city was included in the Nizamshahi in 1497 A D.8

However, Solapur city never got a chance to become capital although it had a fort.

This fort and city had to face many battles between Nizamshahi and Adilshahi from 1497

A.D. to 1599 and from 1599 to 1753 A.D. It was under the rule of Mughuls Nizamshahi,

Adilshahi and again Moghuls and Nizamshahi one after another. But after 1758 Nanasaheb

Peshwa conquered it and brought under Maratha rule. Upto 1814 A.D. Solapur was important and strong military centre under the Maratha power. Solapur city and district also resisted British rule.

Solapur city also played important role in Freedom Movement of India. Hutatma,

Mallappa Dhanashetti, Jagannath Shinde, Shri Kisan Sarda and Kurban Hussain were sentenced to death and other citizens imprisoned as they were protesting against the tyrannical administration of Britishers.9

Since the beginning and even after independence the citizens of Solapur have been making sincere efforts in all walks of life as well as contributing their efforts for the

8 Kulknrni G.P.: SolapurNagarpalika Solapur: Satasavantsnrik granth. 1953 (Marathi), p.l.

- 6 - prosperity of the country. Solapur Municipality was established in 18(g)and it became a

Municipal Corporation on 1st may 1964.10

GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND:

Solapur is the fifth largest urban agglomeration in Maharashtra state. It lies entirely in Bhima, Sina, Nira and Man river basins. flows on the border of

Maharashtra and Karnataka states. It lies on 17°42’ east 17“ 10’ north and 13"32’ north latitude and 16' 15’ east longitudes. The district is fairly well defined to its west as well as to east by the inward looking scraps of range and the Osmanabad. Phaltan respectively. The surrounding districts are to its south west, Satara to its west,

Pune to its north-west and the Bijapur district in Karnataka state to its south. Though of an irregular shaoe, the district is roughly sqaurish 200 Kms. east-west and 150 Kms north- south. The population of Solapur, according to 1991 census, is 32,24,034 out of which

16,64,297 are males and 15,59,107 are females. Its area is 2,533 Square Kms.'1 The height from sea level of this city is 479 meters. It is a hot place. Yearly temperature of

Solapur city is maximum 43.3 ’C and minimum 10 C approximately. The highest maximum temperature recorded at this place was 45 C on May 12, 1939 and the lowest minimum was A 4 ° C on January 7, 1945. The average annual rainfall is 742 mm.

It is connected with most important cities of Maharashtra. Pune and are at a distance of about 250 and 500 Kms. respectively. An important National Highway is

Jakkal V.N.: History of Solapur City, Solapur. 1927. (Marathi), p. 190. 11 Census oflndii, Maharashtra State: Solapur District.. 1991. Mumbai-Bijapur highway No. 9 going through the city. This has contributed much towards the development of Solapur.

LOCATION:

The Solapur district lies entirely in the Bhima, Sina, Man river basins upto the border of Karnataka. The Solapur district is bounded by 17° 16’ to 18° 32’ north and the longitudinal extent of it is of 74° 42’ east to 76° 15’ east longitudinally. The east-west extension of the Solapur district is 200 Kms and north-south stretch of the Solapur district is 150 Kms. The Solapur district is fairly well defined to its west as well as to its east by the inward looking scarps of Phaltan range and the Osmanabad plateau respectively.

The shape of the district resembles flying eagle. The proportion of the area of the

Solapur district as compared to Maharashtra state is about (5%) five percent. The proportion of area of the Solapur district in the Pune division is twenty (20%) percent.

PHYSIOGRAPHY:

The Solapur district is located along the Western flank of the Sahyadrian ranges in

Maharashtra. It is more or less like a plateau region, except two hilly portions in Barshi and Karmala talukas. It is a table land with an average height of 550 meters (1700 to 1800 feet) above sea level. Besides this the area lies in the composite basin of the Nira man and

Sina. The Solapur district is more or less plat or undulating except north and eastern part

of Barshi central part of Madha and Karmala. Western part of the Malshiras and southern

part of the Sangola talukas which are hilly parts. The Ramling hill spreads from north-west

to south-east of Barshi talukas. It is on the border of Osmanabad and Solapur district. It

-8- has 600 meters height above the sea level. The central Karmala and central Madha have two small hills named as Verghoha and Bodaki respectively. The heights of these hills is

600 and 650 meters respectively. The Phaltan range runs from west part of the Malshiras taluka to southern side of the Sangola taluka. Locally it is called as Mahadeo range. The slope of the district is towards south-east because main river flows from north-west to south east across the district.12

CLIMATE:

The climate of Solapur district is typically monsoonal in character with hot, rainy, cold, weather seasons. In large measure climate determines where man may live and thrive what crop he may raise (Whitheck, 1932). Climaticlaly the entire district falls in the rain shadow area. The south-west with its sputio-temporal variations has greater impact on the regional pattern of agriculture and dairy too. The average rainfall variability excesses 30 percent which affects agriculture adversely. During the south-west monsoon average annual rainfall of the region 600 mm. However, the rabbi crops depend on retreating monsoon during October and November. The regur soils retain water moisture

sufficiently for rabbi jowar which provides food grains as well as fodder considerably.

Generally, the climate is dry and healthy during the hot winter season and tends to become

chilly during rainy season particularly in winter it is refreshing with bright sun shine. In the

summer season the dust storm and hot winds are experienced, the temperature also rises

upto 45 ’ C. There are number of important elements of the climate conditions. There are

as follows:

12 Kazi R.M.: A Study of retired industrial worker in Solapur, Unpublished thesis , (1991)

-p. RAINFALL:

The Paucity of total amount of rainfall and large variations both in extent and distribution in different year makes the agriculture almost a gamble on the rains. The average annual rainfall in the district is 600 mm. The regions having less than 700 mm annual average rainfall may be considered as drought prone area. The region therefore can be defined as drought prone area. About 17 percent of the normal annual rainfall in the district is received during September to November which is favourable fro rabbi crops.

The rainfall in the district varies from 520 mm in Malshiras tehsils in the west to 778 mm.

In north Solapur tehsil in the east. About 74 percent the annual rainfall is received during

June to September. The variation in annual rainfall from year to year is large. The region therefore has the problem of inadequate water hampering overall agricultural landscape. In

a whole year there are variations in temperature moisture content which affects dairy

farming in the district. Broadly speaking the district can be divided into three rainfall

zones, eastern zone comprising Barshi north Solapur, South Solapur and Akkalkot talukas

has comparatively fifty eight rainy days. The central zone comprising of Mohol,

Mangalwedha, eastern part of the Pandharpur and Mudha taluka has comparatively forty

nine rainy days and western zone comprising scanty area of Karmala, Sangola, Malshiras

taluka and the western part of the Mudha and Pandharpur has comparatively thirty seven

rainy days.

TEMPERATURE:

Temperature is the major important factor representing the climatic condition. The

temperature of the Solapur district recorded by two meteorological observatories One is

- JO- 228 Kms long. Nira and Man are the right bank feeders of this rivers and Sina Bhoghavati and Bori the left bank feeders of the Bhima river. This river is locally called as

Chandrabhaga because the shape of the course near Pandharpur is like a crescent moon.

Sina is another important river which flows towards south-east in this district. This river originates from ‘Toma’ village in Admednager district and enters the Solapur district near Aljapur village of the . It has 180 Kms course in the Solapur district.

It flows through Karmala, Madha, Mohol and south Solapur taluka of the Solapur district.

This river meets Bhima near the Kural village.

Nira is the third important river of the Solapur district. It is right bank tributary of the Bhima. Its course is in the Bhor taluka of the Poona district. It flows from north east through and enters the Solapur district near village of Malshiras taluka.

It runs only 48 Kms in the Solapur district across Malshiras taluka only. It joins the Bhima rivers near the village Sangam on the border of Malshiras taluka.

Man is fourth major river of the Solapur district. It is also a tributary of Bhima river. It originates in the Man taluka and enters in the Solapur district in northern part of the Sangola taluka. It drains from 80 Kms. Stretch of the Solapur district. This river joins the Bhima river at Sarkoli village of Pandharpur taluka. Bhogawati is the fifth major river of the Solapur district. It originates in the rumbling hills in the . It drains through the south east part of Solapur district. It runs for 64 Kms in Barshi and Mohol talukas of the Solapur district. It meets the Sina near Mohol village.

-12- AREA:

The Solapur district is surrounded by Ahmednagar and Osmanabad districts in north, Osmanabad district and in the east. and Karnataka state in the south, Satara and Pune districts in the west. The Solapur district comprises of an area of 15,025 Sq.Kms which is 4.88% of the total area of Maharashtra state.

According to 1991 census the population of the district is 32,24,034 out which

22,95,135 live in the rural area and the remaining 9,28,899 live in the urban area.

Percentage of the urban population to total population work out to 28.81%. The percentage of the urban population to the total population works out to 28.81% The sex ratio number of females for 1000 males was 942 in 1991 as against 936 in 1981. The density of population per square Km for the district was 216 in 1991 as against 174 in

1981. 4

SOILS:

Solapur district has mainly emerged out from Deccan trap of volcanic origin. The soils in the district can be classified in five main categories on the basis of depth and structure.

1) Very shallow soil - 00.0 to 10.0 Cm depth.

2) Shallow soil - 10.0 to 22.5 Cm depth.

3) Medium deep soils- 25.5 to 45.0 Cm depth.

M Census of India, Maharashtra State: Solapur District 1991.

-13- 4) Medium deep soils- 45.0 to 90.0 Cm depth.

5) Deep soils - More than 90 Cms depth.

It is clear from the fact of the total cultivated area that very shallow soils occupy about 10 percent shallow soils 20 percent, medium deep soils 45 percent and deep soils 25 percent. In Karmala tehsil about 50 percent area is covered by black soils and remaining by red and light. The soils of Mangalwedha and Sangola are mainly light brown and are shallow in Akkalkot Tehsil the soils are rich, especially in the vicinity of Bhima and valleys. Madha tehsil has shallow soils having varying depth and quality. Barshi tehsil

has an extensive tract of black soils which are productive. In Pandharpur soil is poor and suitable for producing millets. The black soils are confined to Bhima river valley which are rich for sugar cane production. The district has extensive patches of shallow soils with low

water holding capacity and crops in such areas suffer much during the drought conditions.15

VEGETATION:

The district has a limited area under forest. There are a few scrubs and scant forest

with patches in Barshi, Sangola and Malshiras talukas. The forests, a little over half a century ago were under the administration of forest division of Solapur district. But owing

to the pressure of population, both human and bovine. These forest lands have been

denuded of vegetation and soils.

15 Gazetteer of India, Maharashtra State: Solapur district Gazetteer. 1977. pp.247~251.

- 14- Only dry thorny, dry deciduous and common scrubs type of vegetations have spread in the district. These vegetations do not carry much importance from the view point of economic development. Barshi, Sangola and Malshiras talukas have small patches of scrubs and arid forest. The common grasses like Bonjrut, Bhalekural, Pavanya, Sheda, etc. are found in this district.

GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS:

Though the district as a whole forms a broad basin occupied by Bhima river in the middle and rising to higher elevations towards the edges substantial regional and local variations exist in topography. Underlying rocks terrain soil conditions and water supply all of which are reflected in human response expressed through the human habitations cropping economy and the cultural landscape. Accordingly one may recognize the following broad division of geographical regions in the district.

1) WESTERN FOOTHILL REGION:

This region comprises of southern part of Malshiras and western Sangola forming sharp slope of Phaltan range running from north east to south west in southern part of

Malshiras talukas and from north to south in Sangola taluka. This region descends from an elevation of over 600 meters to 500 meters. The area is rough, broken ground fairly dissected by large number of ephemeral streams descending down the sharp slope and draining into Nira and Man. The hill slopes are generally barren. The soil is stony and barren and much of it is fit only for cattle grazing.

- 15- The entire region is dotted with very few villages at an average distance of 6 to 8

Kms away from each other. These villages are generally found along the stream banks at lower edges of the foothill slope where a number of streams descend from the hill slopes and assure the village sites of fairly reliable water supply

2) NIRA BASIN:

The region encompasses only Malshiras taluka and western central part of the district. It has 500 to 600 meters elevation sloping northwards. The soil of this region is fairly deep in the river basin and its tends to become open gray barren away from river basin. Since the introduction of canal and other means of irrigation agriculture in this area has undergone revolutionary changes both in terms of cropping patterns and in terms of agricultural production Malshiras taluka records the highest percentage under irrigation within the district. However, grass cropped area in this region is lowest in the district about 60 percent approximately because of barren hill slopes and foothill deposits which are uncultivable waste occupying the southern part of the taluka.

3) MAN BASIN:

It extends over whole Sangola taluka. Western half of the Mangalwedha and south

Pandharpur. The climate of this area is driest in the district. The meager rainfall of about

45 Cms is also not reliable. The soil tends to be poor shallow and gravelly on the plateau surface. However, along the stream it becomes fairly black and deep.

- 16- 4) BHIMA VALLEY:

The Bhima valley region lies in western Kamiala, eastern Malshiras, Pandharpur and part of the Mangalwedha. It occupies the central part of the district. The soil of this region is medium black and murmad. The rainfall of this region increases downwards of the river basin.

5) CENTRAL UPLANDS:

This region lies in the central part of Karmala and Madha talukas. It has an elevation about 650 Mts. above the mean sea level rising through fairly steep slope to about 50 meters relative elevation. The plateau is somewhat higher in elevation and somewhat rugged in the north. It has generally stony plateau soils gray to red barren and red soils.

6) SINA-BHOGAWATI VALLEY:

This region occupies eastern and central part of the district, eastern part of

Karmala, western part of Barshi, eastern part of Madha, central part of Mohol and north and south Solapur talukas,

7) AKKALKOT PLAINS:

The plains lie at an elevation of 400 meters above mean sea level. They descend

down to the Sina valley in the west while in this section the area as a whole is bare of

trees. It has fairly assured water supply especially from wells as well as from assured

- 17 - rainfall also. Soils are mainly black and mixed murmad. The irrigated lands are mainly devoted to sugarcane, rice and rabbi jowar.16

8) LAND USE:

Out of the total geographical area of the district 87.9 percent is cultivated area and

12.10 percent uncultivated. The analysis of the data pertaining to the irrigated area to unirrigated area and cultivable waste reveals that within the district Akkalkot is the tehsil where 92.99 percent of the area is cultivated. Other tehsils where proportion of the cultivated area exceeds the district average (87.90 percent) include Barshi (91.14 percent).

South Solapur (91.77 percent), Mangalwedha (67.34 percent), Sangola (88.00 percent) and Mudha (91.37 percent.) In remaining tehsils the proportions of the cultivated area is less than the district average. Nearly 9.45 percent of the cultivated area is irrigated. It is interesting to note that Malshiras tehsil has the highest proportion of (23.27 percent) irrigated area to its total cultivable area whereas Karmala tehsil ranks the lowest among the eleven tehslis with 3.40 percent.17

9) AGRICULTURE:

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood of the people in the district as it engages nearly 70 percent of the working population. However, about 87.90 percent of the total cultivated area is under dry farming.

16 Ghosh Santwarva. 1990: Physical Solapur district, economic factors in the population dislributino the national geographical journal of India, Vol ZVI, Part One. pp.61-70. 17 Gazetteer oflndia, Maharashtra State: Solapur district. Gazetteer. 1977. p.25i.

- 18- 10) CROPPING PATTERNr

There are three types of harvests l) Rabbi season 2) Kharif season and 3) Hot weather season.

Rabbi season commences from the middle of October and harvested in the month of January so far as Jowar crop is concerned. The and gram crops are grown in this season and are harvested in the month of March. It is interesting that the rabbi crops like

Jowar, wheat and gram are generally grown as rainfall crop on a large scale.

Kharif season begins from the first week of the June and continues upto November

December. The main crop grown in the Kharif season are cotton ground nut, bajara, (ur, moog, maize, paddy etc.

Besides the Kharif and Rabbi crops, hot weather crops are also grown in the district. The crops like maize, groundnut etc. are grown in the month of March-April and harvested in the month of June.

The district has considerably more area under the rabbi crops than under Kharif and hot weather crops. Rabbi, Kharif and hot weather crops covers 65.8 percent, 20 percent and 14.2 percent respectively of the total cropped area. Jowar and bajara are the main millets of the region and are grown in the rabbi and Kharif season entirely a unirrigated crops. Jowar alone occupies 66 percent of the grass cropped area of the district. Cereals occupy 74.00 percent, pulses 11.00 percent, sugarcane 3.00 percent and oilseeds 12.00 percent. About two thirds of the Jowar comes from dry land tract of black

- 19- soils in Rabbi and Kharif seasons. Two varieties, the Maldandi 35-1 and Shalu Jowar are popular.

The popular crop association are jowar and bajara, jowar and oilseed and Jowar and pulses. In recent years in the district some significant changes have taken place. Crops like sugarcane, grams, fruits and vegetables have increased in acreage, due to opening of

Ujani project pressure of population together with improved wholesale marketing conditions have played a significant role in this transfoimation.

Surplus foodgrains are traded from Barshi, Mangalwedha and Pandharpur to

Bombay, Pune, Ahmednagar, Madras, and Calcutta. Modem techniques are not used widely, therefore, foodgrains are not easily available for want of warehouse. Recently new types of agricultural policies are introduced in the district .18

11) IRRIGATION:

Irrigation has acted as a catalyst in the agricultural area of Solapur district. In

1990-91 the net irrigated area to the total cultivated area is 9.45 percent. Out of this 30.10 percent area is under canal irrigation 45.21 percent under well irrigation, 22.6 percent under well with electricity, 37 percent under life irrigation and 30 percent and 0.9 percent under tube wells and tank irrigation. There is no major irrigation work taken up in the district. Any medium and minor work such as battdharas, tanks and wells provide irrigation facilities in the district. The completion of Nira right bank canal in 1937-38.

However, is one of the most important landmarks in the economy of the district. The

Gazetteer of ': Solapur district. Vol XX. 1884, pp.219-21.

- 20 - Bhima project 1970 is another landmark which has been instrumental in revolutionizing the structure of the agrarian economy in part of the district. The Ujani project is estimated to extended irrigation facilities of about 110.400 hectares of land in the region. The main beneficiaries of the scheme will be the tehsils of Pandharpur, Mohol, South Solapur, North

Solapur, Malshiras, Mangalwedha and Madha. Besides the Bhima project the Lingani

(Pangaon) medium irrigation project are in progress and this will extend irrigation facilities at about 8000 hectares in Barshi tehsils. There is significant increase in irrigated areas in the recent year. During 1981-91 Malshiras and Pandharpur tehsils are having fair proportion of land under irrigation is 27.37 percent and 20.58 percent respectively.19

12) COMMERCE AND TRADE:

Solapur is well known as convenient trade centre of the neighbouring states as it is on the broad gauge route from Bombay to , Bombay to Madras, Kanyakumari and Kanyakumari to Kashmir, to Kashmir etc. Barshi trade centre and Akkalkot trade centre are famous in Maharashtra. Solapur city itself is known as a city of Textile industry. Before 60’s the Solapur spinning and weaving mills, Solapur (Juni Mills) was one of the biggest textile mills not any in India but also in Asia. As well as the textile mills like Laxmi Vishnu Mills, Jam Mills, Narsing-Giraji Mills, were also the biggest mills employing more that 5000 employees in 80’s. In 60’s due to closure of Solapur Spinning anc Weaving Mills Solapur Co-operative Weaving Mills like Solapur Sahakari Soot Mills and Yaswant Sahakari Soot Mills started to produce cotton into yam. The retrenched

skilled labourers were engaged in producing handloom and it was developed during 60’s

19 laid. pp.222-228

-21 - and 70’s. But due to Co-operative Spinning Mills powerloom industries flourished. The

Solapur chaddar, towels, napkins, wall hangings, handloom sarees, kolla and organdi captured not only the Indian market but also the export market. Solapur became the trade centre for cotton textile. Now-a-days number of spinning mills have been started in

Solapur district. To name a few, Spinning Mill, Valsang, Ambabai

Spinning Mills, Madha, Shetkari Sahakari Mills, Sangola, Rasan Textile Milts, Barshi

Textile Mills, Barshi, Lok Seva Textile Mills Barshi. Apart from these, a number of sugar factories have been started in all the taluka places. Malshiras taluka and particularly Akluj is supposed to be No. 1 trade centre for sugar in Maharashtra as Akluj itself is having 3 sugar factories: Yeshwant Sahakari Sugar Factory, Sadashiv Nagari Sahakari Sugar

Factory. In Solapur city Siddheshwar Sahakari Sugar factory has been founded by late

Annappa Kadadi at road, Solapur.

Kirloskar group is having its engineering unit named Shivaji Works, Solapur at

Hotgi road which produces spare parts required for Escorts and H.M.T. tractors, iron castings and spare parts for the various machinery as well as it produces the Kirloskar

Engines. Patil group is having its foundry in the industrial estate area Hotgi road, Solapur which produces the Lakshmi motors and the pumps and the cutter machines and the

Chetan foundries also produces the spare parts required for the H.M.T. and Escort

Tractors.

The M.I.D.C. of Akkalkot road is having more than 1300 various small scale units wherein the handloom, powerloom, chemicals, engineering works are flourishing Recently the new M.I.D.C. area at Solapur-Pune road is developed and the Birla Corp. has entered

-22- in Solapur by establishing Cimmcon Spinning mills in Solapur as well as the well known industrialists open their various plants in the M.I.D.C. area. The main reason behind this opening is availability of skilled labour at cheap rate, good transportation facilities, good water facility (due to Ujani canal facility) and the market

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS:

The chief commodities of trade in the past were cotton, jowar, bajra, rice, pulses and other food grains besides cloth medicines and hardware other essential commodities the Solapur district. The chief exports are of vegetable products, cotton, grain, oilseeds and groundnuts and animal products honey wax, lac, and bides and horns, and of manufactured articles cloth, carts, oil, indigo and clarified butter. All these materials are exported in the district. The co-operative societies strive to eradicate malpractices in agricultural trade and to assure the producers of a just price for their produce. There are also sale and purchase societies at the tehsil level. Strong facilities are available at new markets in the district. The Maharashtra state Ware Housing Corporation has opened its branches at Barshi, Pandharpur, Akkalkot Karmala and Solapur for providing scientific facilities. The big centres of the corporation at the Sangola and Pandharpur were closed in

1968-69. The sale and purchase unions at Barshi Pandharpur Akluj have built godowns for the goods at these places.20

The Chamber of Commerce at Solapur renders valuable services towards

developing trade activities in the Solapur district. It was established in 1901 under the

Societies Registration Act. The project of this body includes fostering and developing

20 Ibid. pp. 264-265

-23- friendly and mutual relations among the business community and industrialists and promoting the interests of the business community in matters of inland and foreign trade, shipping transport industry, banking and insurance. It strives for settlement of disputes among traders as also between traders and the market communities and to redress grievances of the trader in respect of sales tax, income tax, and other related problems.

The Chamber of Commerce collects statistics and other data for the information of the interested parties. The affairs of the Chamber are looked after by the Managing Committee of 25 members which consists of President, Vice President, General Secretary and other members. Representatives of the Chamber are co-operated by various government and semi-government bodies. Indian Merchants Chamber and Maharashtra Chamber of

Commerce. The Chamber is also an advisor to the (1) Divisional Railway Users

Consultative Committee (2) District Food Advisory Board, (3) Solapur Rotary Club and

Pandharpur Railway Broad Gauge Action Committee. The Chamber helped in the establishment of the Siddheshwar Co-operative Sugar Factory at Solapur in 1969 and took initiative to secure for it loan of Rs. 36 lakhs from government. The Chamber also strongly advocated the abolition of statutory rationing in Solapur city which has ultimately abolished in May 1968. The Chamber has undertaken the work of industrial survey of

Solapur since 1969 with the help of government and private agencies.21

Thus this is a bird’s eyeview of the position of Solapur district and its adjoining area as well as geographical and climatic conditions.

21 Gazetteer of India, Maharashtra State: Solapur district. Gazetteer, 1977. p.511.1

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