The Andhra Pradesh Government will synchronise records of Registration Department and Revenue Department to keep tabs on duplication of land registrations. “We have observed that mutation is not happening on a regular basis, leading to litigations and deceit. With a view to ensuring a sense of security to people, we have decided to link up these two very important departments using computing networks,” N. Raghuveera Reddy, Minister for Revenue, said.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said the Government has launched a pilot in Ranga Reddy, Warangal and Chittoor districts. After reviewing the outcome, the initiative would be extended to all the districts.

The next Cabinet meeting would come up with a policy to govern land allotment policy. “We don’t have a policy on this issue. We will have a blueprint on how to allot, at what price and on punishments for violations. It would propose a Land Management Authority to oversee various issues,” he said.

Tenant farmers

On the issue of providing institutional credit to tenant farmers, he said the State-level Bankers Committee has agreed to disburse loans to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore this financial year.

Last year, the banking lending was put at Rs 393 crore to two lakh tenant farmers, who held Loan Eligibility Cards (LECs). In all, 5.76 lakh cards were issued to Licensed Cultivators (the Government changed the nomenclature of tenant farmers to licensed cultivators).

These cards, however, are issued annually. “Of the 4.29 lakh applications this year for LECs, we have found 3.77 lakh farmers eligible,” he said.

Vanpic lands

Replying a question on the controversial allotment to Vanpic port project, he said the Revenue Ministry could not take a decision on its own. Reddy’s predecessor Dharmana Prasada Rao had put in his papers after the CBI named him as an accused in the land allotment scam.

kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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