Punganuru Tahsil and Zammdari
Punganuru Tahsil and Zammdari, 1908
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.
Estate situated above the Ghats in the north-west corner of North Arcot District, Madras, lying between 13 degree 10' and 13degree 40' N. and 78 degree 22' and 79 degree E., and adjoining Mysore. It extends over 648 square miles, and forms a tahsil in charge of a deputy -tahsilddr and sub-magistrate. The population in 1901 was 96,852, compared with 92,023 in 1891. It contains 564 villages and one town, PUNGANURU (population, 6,353), tne head- quarters and residence of the zamindar. The pcshkash and land cess in 1963-4 amounted to Rs. 81,000. The estate runs up to the Mysore plateau, and its temperature is thus considerably lower than that of the rest of the District. Large game is abundant, and twenty- five years ago elephants were found. An excellent breed of cattle is maintained, and sugar-cane is largely cultivated. The family of the present zamtnddr is said to have settled in the country as far back as the thirteenth century, and its members have a long local history. During the Mysore Wars the zamtnddr assisted Lord Cornwallis with transport and provisions, and he and his successors managed the estate for many years as lessees for the British. In 1832 the owner died without issue and a series of disputes arose. The estate eventually passed to his brother. A permanent sanad (grant) was bestowed by Government in 1861. The zannndar belongs to the sect of Lingayats.
