Section 114 in The Bihar Government Estates (Khas-Mahal) Manual, 1953
114. Agricultural deterioration to be reported promptly.
(1)It is the duty of Subdivisional and District Officers to report promptly the existence of any agricultural deterioration, and such reports should be forwarded by the Commissioners, with their own views, to the Board of Revenue for orders. In the case of both Government estates and temporarily settled private estates it will be a matter for consideration whether abatements or suspensions of revenue or rent should be granted. (Vide Sections VII and XX Chapter II of the Tauzi Manual, 1923). The reports will be forwarded, when the Board thinks necessary, to the Director of Agriculture.(2)Agricultural deterioration has been described by the Government of India as including (1) occasional failure, that is, "Sudden distress due to unforeseen calamity, such as failure of rain, hailstorms, inundation, etc., requiring as a rule, immediate relief", (2) gradual failure, that is, "gradual deterioration due to ascertainable causes, requiring early and special measures of prevention and relief", instance of which are cattle murrain, swamping due to interference with drainage by railway embankments or canals, the growth of noxious weeds and causes which gradually reduce the value of land or affect the prosperity of the people, and (3) persistent failure, that is, failure to reach the highest attainable standard of production due to causes or defects of a more or less persistent character and requiring prolonged investigation, such as want of irrigation, frequent liability to failure of rain, insufficiency in the wood or fuel supply, cattle-diseases, plant diseases and blights, want of drainage, the prevalence of saline efflorescence, proved imperfections in agricultural practice, the want of suitable manures, and so on.
