DELAY IN TENDERS DEFER E-PASSBOOK DISTRIBUTION

Electronic pattadar passbooks to over 70 lakh agriculture land owners in State would not be distributed on March 11 as announced earlier by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The government had conducted a special drive from September 15 to December 31 last year for purification of land records after seven decades to set them right and issue e-pattadar passbooks to all land owners afresh based on the new records.

However, the e-passbooks with enhanced security features similar to that of the passport offering tamper-proof and water-proof features could not be printed as tenders had not been finalised yet. The tenders were called in February but were cancelled as there was no response.

Later, the CM decided to hand over the contract to the Centre’s Security Printing Press and an agreement for this was reached. But he cancelled it last week after the press demanded a higher amount.

With this, tenders were called afresh and the last date was March 5. Nearly a dozen firms evinced interest.

The CM had earlier announced that he would invite PM Narendra Modi for the launch of distribution of e-passbooks. But in the changed political scenario after the CM’s Third Front idea, it was learnt he had dropped the plan.

“Since the tenders have not been finalised and printing of e-passbooks could not be started, it will be difficult to launch the distribution programme. A fresh date will be announced later,” officials said.