According to Megasthenes, the Mauryan officials called 'Agronomoi' were in charge of:

According to Megasthenes, the "Agronomoi" were officers in charge of the countryside, responsible for roads, irrigation and land measurement.

Duties of the Agronomoi (Megasthenes):

• They supervised rivers and measured land, as was done in Egypt.
• They inspected the sluices (channels) by which water was distributed from main canals to branch canals, so that everyone got a fair share of water.
• They were in charge of hunters, and could reward or punish them.
• They collected taxes and supervised occupations connected with land, such as woodcutters, carpenters, blacksmiths and miners.
• They constructed roads, and set up pillars at every ten "stadia" (about 1.8 km) to show by-roads and distances.
• Some scholars compare them with the "Rajukas" mentioned in Ashoka's edicts, or with district officers described in the Arthashastra.

Other officials mentioned by Megasthenes:

• "Astynomoi": officials in charge of the city.
• Officials in charge of the army.

The word "agronomoi":

• It is a Greek word, from "agros" (field) and "nomos" (law or management), meaning "overseers of the fields".
• In ancient Greek cities, agronomoi were officials responsible for rural districts.

Mauryan public works:

• The Mauryan state maintained roads, irrigation works and water supply.
• The Arthashastra mentions a water tax and the building of reservoirs and canals.

Megasthenes' "Indica":

• It survives only in fragments quoted by later writers, such as Strabo, Arrian and Diodorus.
• It describes Indian society, geography, administration, flora and fauna.
• Historians use it carefully, as Megasthenes sometimes misunderstood Indian customs; for example, he wrote that there was no slavery in India and that Indians did not know writing, which are not correct.

Why not the other options?

• ✗City administration was the work of the Astynomoi.
• ✗The army had its own administration.
• ✗Religious ceremonies were not their responsibility.