| His great
interest in agriculture could be known by the fact that he thought of constructing a dam
exactly on the same spot where the present Krishnarajasagar Dam stands today.
In the midst of war against the Marathas and the Nizam, he issued instructions to take
care of the silk worms which were being brought from Bengal. Sericulture
received great attention at his hands. He was so fond of
horticulture and gardening that all his correspondence with foreign dignitaries would
invariably carry a request for new varieties of seeds and plants. He changed the land
tenure, which entitled the cultivators to own the land. He gave waste land free of rent
for cultivation. He put an end to the farming of the land to the highest bidder, and
appointment revenue officers for collecting revenue. He abolished the grant of "jagirs".
He introduced "takavi" loans which
helped the peasants in lean seasons. The existing forced labour was done away with. To
discourage needless litigation, he encouraged the villagers to settle the disputes among
themselves. His love of plants was so great that he hit upon a novel idea of dispensing
justice. For various offences committed by the people, he fixed proportionate punishment,
not of imposing fines nor of putting behind bars, but of making them plant trees, water
them, and bring them up to a particular height. |
