Revenue Department will undergo a complete overhaul, says Naidu

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has stressed the need to streamline the revenue services and make them accessible online.

People should not be made to visit government offices repeatedly for certificates. Third-party audits should be conducted on grievance resolutions within the Revenue Department, Mr. Naidu said at a review meeting on November 29 (Friday).

Mr. Naidu said that in the age of technology, people should not be made to go round government offices for documents such as birth, death, caste, and income certificates. These services should be made available online.

“Strict action will be taken against those who tamper with the online records, intimidate people, and forcibly seize their lands. The Revenue Department will undergo a complete overhaul, and the erring officials will be punished,” he said.

The officials informed the Chief Minister that 1,74,720 grievances relating to various departments had been received, of which 67,928 pertained to the Revenue Department. Of the 1,32,572 grievances that had been redressed, 49,784 related to revenue issues. Most of the complaints pertained to revenue records, land encroachments, and assignment lands, they said.

The officials further said that 13,59,805 acres of land had been converted to ‘freehold’ during the last five years, with 4,21,433 acres identified as having been converted in violation of regulations. Of the total freehold land, 25,284 acres was registered, 7,827 acres illegally. The illegal registrations had taken place in 10 mandals, including Penukonda, Nandalur, Vedurukuppam, Dharmavaram, Veeraballi, Somandepalli, Yerpedu, Dornala, and Ramapuram.

Responding to it, the Chief Minister directed the officials to investigate these irregularities thoroughly, identify those responsible, including Revenue officials and staff, and politicians, and take strict action. He instructed the officials to address the violations in the freehold lands.

Revenue Minister A. Satyaprasad said the previous government had etched the former Chief Minister’s image on 77,98,516 boundary stones. The coalition government was removing these images. “So far, images have been removed from 4,40,651 stones. It is costing ₹15 for each stone, and the entire process is estimated to cost ₹12 crore. It will be completed by January,” he added.