Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/54

 107. States Merged in Madras.—Agreements similar to those signed by the Rulers of other smaller States were also signed by the Rulers of Banganapalle and Pudukkottai on 18th and 29th February, 1948, respectively. The territories of these States which formed an area of 1,444 square miles with a population of about 470,000 were interspersed with those of the Madras Province. The administration of the two States was taken over by the Provincial Government on 23rd February and 3rd March, 1948, respectively. Another island State in the Madras Province was Sandur which had an area of only 158 square miles and a population of 15,814. It was clear from the very beginning that this small State had no future except merger with Madras. The Ruler signed the Merger Agreement (Appendix XX) on 1st April, 1949, transferring the administration of the State to the Dominion Government with immediate effect.  108. States Merged in the United Provinces.—The States within the geographical orbit of the United Provinces were merged during the last phase of the process of integration. One of these, Tehri-Garhwal, is situated in the Himalayas bounded on the north by the Himachal Pradesh and the other sides by the Garhwal and Dehra Dun Districts of the United Provinces. The State had an area of 4,516 square miles with a population of about 397,000 and a revenue of about Rs. 3,700,000. For administrative, ethnic and other reasons the State formed a part of the United Provinces. The Ruler and the popular Ministry in office agreed to the merger of the State with the United Provinces. The Merger Agreement (Appendix XXI) was signed by the Ruler on May 18, 1949 and the administration was taken over by the Government of the United Provinces on August 1, 1949.

109. Another State which formed a small enclave within the United Provinces was Benares which had an area of 866 square miles with a population of over 450,000 and a revenue of about Rs. 3,500,000. Subject to suitable safeguards as regards his position in respect of religious ceremonies connected with Kashi, the Ruler was agreeable to the merger of the State with the United Provinces. The Agreement (Appendix XXII) was signed on 5th September, 1949 and the administration of the State was taken over by the Government of the United Provinces on 15th October, 1949.

110. Another State which was almost an island in the United Provinces and had to depend on that Province for all its essential needs was Rampur.