Fifteen of the larger towns in the district have been constituted unions with the usual powers and functions. These are Dowlaishweram, Amalápuram and Kottapéta under the Rajahmundry taluk board; Peddápuram, Jagapatinagaram, Yelésvaram, Jaggampéta, Rámachandrapuram, Drákshárámam, Mandapéta and Bikkavólu under the Peddápuram board; and Gollamámidáda, Samalkot, Pithápuram and Tuni under the taluk board of Cocanada. The chief item in their receipts is (as elsewhere) the house-tax, which is everywhere levied at the maximum rates. The average tax per house for 1905-06 is estimated to work out to As. 12-I
The separate Appendix to this volume contains statistics of the receipts and expenditure of the various local boards. The chief source of income is, as usual, the land cess, which is levied at the ordinary rate of one anna in every rupee of the land assessment. The chief item of expenditure is the upkeep of the roads and the medical and educational institutions. These have already been referred to in Chapters VII, IX, and X respectively.
The only two municipal towns are Cocanada and Rajahmundry. In the separate Appendix appear particulars of the receipts and expenditure of their councils.
Cocanada was one of the municipalities established under the first regular municipal act (Madras Act X of 1865) and the council was constituted in 1866. It now consists of twenty members of whom eight are nominated and twelve elected. The privilege of electing its own chairman was conferred upon the council in 1886, was withdrawn in 1893, but was restored again in 1897. The appointment of a paid secretary was sanctioned in 1899. He is selected by the municipal council subject to the approval of Government.
Several considerable permanent improvements have been effected in the town by the municipality. First in importance come the Victoria water-works, which were completed in June 1903. The water is obtained from the Samalkot canal, and a large reservoir to contain two months' supply has been excavated in the water-works premises. The scheme was designed to supply 400,000 gallons of water per diem (at the rate of 10 gallons per head of the population of the town) and the supply is expected to be perennial. The water is drawn from the reservoir just mentioned through filter beds into a second reservoir, and is thence distributed throughout the town by cast-iron pipes and fountains. Three Worthington engines of 10 horse power each are employed in the works. The cost of the scheme was estimated at Rs. 4,66,200, but actually
