Amaravati: The state government has announced the issuance of new Pattadar passbooks to landowners, featuring an official seal instead of political images. This decision aligns with promises made during the election campaign and in response to public demand.
Officials have already submitted a prototype of the passbook, which includes a QR code that provides detailed property information, including address and maps, when scanned. The government is making efforts to ensure transparency and accuracy in land records.
The previous administration, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, spent Rs 15 crore to print his photos on the passbooks. Furthermore, Rs 650 crore was allocated for a land survey that included the placement of boundary stones bearing Jagan’s image, despite no such requirement from the central government. These actions have led to significant wastage of public funds, totaling Rs 700 crore.
The current government, under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, is now evaluating what to do with the 77 lakh granite stones that feature Jagan’s images. Preliminary estimates suggest that removing these pictures could cost an additional Rs 15 crore. Naidu has directed officials to explore alternative uses for these stones to mitigate further financial losses.
