Studies in Cola History and Administration c10.44

c10.44

When a road was submerged under water and thereupon became unfit for use, the *Sabha* decided to renew the road and widen it by purchasing adjacent lands from the ryots, * the cost being provided apparently from its own funds. The supply of drinking water in a public place was provided by income from a private endowment of funds invested at 15% per annum and supervised by the tank committee of the *Sabha*. † When the *Sabha* lacked funds for capital expenditure of an urgent nature it had resort to a loan from the treasury of a temple, and we have an instance of a large loan paid off with interest by the *Sabha* by the alienation of some land and the dues thereon, and the record of the transaction is described by the expressive name *iranakrayavana-kkaiyeluttu*, a deed of sale-for-debt. ‡ The record of this sale shows that the *Sabha* had its own *pottakam* and *vari*, record books showing existing property-rights and tax-dues, ¶ and that these books were kept up-to-date by appropriate entries being made in them at the end of every transaction affecting these rights and dues.