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 population of 7 millions. The agreements (Appendix XI) signed by the Rulers of these States on 14th December, 1947, and subsequent dates, provide for cession by them to the Dominion Government of full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and powers for, and in relation to, the governance of their States.

98. The administration of these States was made over to the Governments of Orissa and the Central Provinces on 1st January, 1948. The Ruler of the Central India State of Makrai also later signed a similar agreement and the administration of the State was integrated with that of the Central Provinces with effect from 1st February, 1948. The 25 States which merged with Orissa under these arrangements included Seraikella and Kharsawan. On further consideration, however, it was realised that on account of the situation of these two States as island territories in Singhbhum district it was impossible for any Government other than that responsible for the administration of that District to administer them effectively. The Government of India accordingly took over from the Government of Orissa the administration of these States and made it over to the Government of Bihar on 18th May, 1948.

99. The only Eastern State which was not affected by the merger negotiations in December 1947 was Mayurbhanj which had an area of 4,084 square miles and a population of a little under one million. On 17th October, 1948 the Ruler of this State also signed an Instrument of merger (Appendix XII); the State was taken over by the Government of India on 9th November, 1948 and a Chief Commissioner appointed to administer it. On 1st January, 1949, the State was merged with the Province of Orissa.  100. Merger of Deccan States.—The merger of the Eastern States gave an impetus to the people of other States with limited resources to seek a similar remedy for their difficulties. The Rulers of Deccan States who had at one time decided to merge their sovereignty in the proposed United Deccan State later decided in favour of the security that integration with a resourceful unit such as the Bombay Province could provide as against the hazards of separate existence as small units. They signed merger agreements (Appendix XIII) on 19th February, 1948, and subsequent dates. In pursuance of these agreements all States in Deccan except Kolhapur, were administratively integrated with the Province of Bombay in March, 1948. The seventeen Deccan States thus merged in Bombay covered an area of 7,651 square miles with a population of about 1.7 millions and a revenue of about Rs. 14,200,000. 