Karvetnagar Zamindari
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Karvetnagar Zamindari
Ancient zamindari in the north-east of North Arcot District, Madras, lying between 13 degree 2' and 13° 35' N. and 79 degree 14' and 79 degree 49' E. Area, 943 square miles : number of villages, 667 ; population (1901), 341,240. It is held on permanent tenure under a sanad (grant) issued by the British Government in 1802. The whole of the zamindari is hilly except the south-east ; penetrating the hills run numerous picturesque ravines or konas, which are well wooded and fairly stocked with game. One of the most charming of these is the Sadasiva kona, about 10 miles north-east of the Puttur station on the Madras Railway. Here a perennial stream flows east- wards by a succession of cascades, by the sides of which tree-ferns and other species of water-loving plants grow in profusion.
The principal streams which drain the zamindari are named after the towns of Narayanavanam, Nagari, and Tiruttani, by which they flow. They are dry except during the rains, but have excellent underground springs, the water of which is tapped by means of channels and irrigates considerable areas on both banks. The soil of the estate is fertile ; but much of it is covered with hill and jungle, and three- fourths of the area is uncultivable, only about 130,000 acres being under the plough. Indigo is still largely cultivated, but of late years the market for the dye has been depressed owing to the competition of its new chemical rival. From the forests of the zamindari much fuel is exported to Madras by rail. The total peshkash (or permanent revenue paid to Government) is 1-7 lakhs, and the cesses in 1903-4 were an additional Rs. 50,000. The gross income of the whole estate averages between 6 and 7 lakhs, but it is heavily encumbered. Some of the villages have been sold in satisfaction of decrees of the Civil Courts and now form separate properties ; and the estate is so involved in debt that it was taken under the management of the Court of Wards for a time. It has now been handed back to the proprietor. Karvetnagar, 7 miles from Puttur railway station, is the chief town and the residence of the zamlndar, who has the hereditary title of Raja. Puttur, Narayanavanam, Nagari, and Tiruttani are other important places.
