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PLACES
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KARANJA
Karanja is a large village on the Dham river in Arvi tahsil about 24 miles distant from Arvi, the Nagpur-Amravati road touching it in its run. The village name is derived from the Karanj tree (Pangamia albagra) with which the place was once full; but to-day hardly any tree of this species is seen in the village. Karanja was founded about 1600 A.D. by Navab Muhammad Khan Niazi of Ashti. Its site is on a rising ground, surrounded by hills but the depressions adjoining it have some fine gardens. It is the headquarters of a development block and is known for Gaolao cattle considered to be one of the best cattle breeds in the country. Rich pasture and grazing lands in the vicinity have made Karanja an ideal cattle-raising place and hence a full-fledged veterinary dispensary has been established here. At the weekly market held here on Sundays, besides usual articles, cattle and agricultural implements are sold. Orange orchard culture in coarse reddish sandy soil is undertaken on a large scale and irrigation provided by small bandharas across the Jam, the Kar and other rivulets. The produce is transported to Morshi, Achalpur, Amravati and Nagpur. There are a few Koshtis who weave cotton cloth and carpets. A primary health centre and a leprosy eradication centre are the only institutions catering to the medical needs of its 4,128 inhabitants. Apart from primary schools, Karanja has two high schools, a post and a police station, a forest office and a branch
of the district central co-operative bank. However, an acute scarcity of potable water is felt, to remove which the grampanchayat is proposing to have a water supply scheme.
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