26 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
among the developmental expenditure of a country the Public Works take a prominent position.
Applying the same criterion we are compelled to condemn the entire fiscal system of the East India Company.
Before 1853 the administration was engaged in war operations and not only did not project any new scheme of public works, but it allowed the old ones to fall rapidly into decay.
Dr. Spray in his “Modern India” (1837) says “It is in the territories of the independent native chiefs and princes that great and useful works are found and maintained. In our territories the canals, bridges and reservoirs, wells, groves, etc., the works of our predecessors from revenues expressly appropriated for such undertakings are going fast to decay.”
Speaking of the Public Works in India, Mr. John Bright said “With regard to public works, if I were speaking for the natives of India, I would state this fact, that in a single English country there are more roads—more travelable roads— than are to be found in the whole of India; and I would say also, that the single city of Manchester, in the supply of its inhabitants in the single article of water, has spent a larger sum of money than the East India Company has spent in the fourteen years—from 1834 to 1848— in public works of every kind throughout the whole of its dominions. I would say that the real activity of the Indian Government has been an activity of conquest and annexation.”
Before the “Department of Public Works” was made uniform for all the Presidencies of India the important branch of administration was conducted in various ways.
In Bombay it was conducted by the Military Board : Though subordinate, the Superintendent of Roads and Tanks was outside the Military Board.
In Bengal the Military Board had the entire control.
In Madras the administration of this department was threefold : There was—
(1) The Public Works Department of the Board of Revenue.
(2) The Superintendent of Roads.
(3) The Military Board.