Notices issued to corrupt' RDO

Visakhapatnam: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) will soon quiz the revenue divisional officer S. Venkateswarulu in connection with the tampering of land records in Vizag city. Several people have lodged a complaint against the RDO for his corrupt practices in favour of land sharks.

District collector Pravin Kumar had issued a show-cause notice to Mr Venkateswarulu for his official decisions, which allegedly led to the sale of government lands to the private persons. The R.D.O was directed to reply within 15 days.

A SIT official said that they have received complaints from Anakapalle MLA Peela Govind Satyanarayana and exe-cutive officer, Simha-chalam temple K. Ramachandra Mohan against the RDO for tampering the government land records.

Mr Mohan in the complaint alleged that the due to corrupt practices of the officer, endowment lands, located at Andandapuram and Bheemili, worth crores have gone in the hands of private persons. Meanwhile, the MLA in his complaint to the collector said his private lands in survey number 138/2 in Ramavaram village under Anand-apuram mandal were identified as government lands by the RDO.

A senior official, on condition of anonymity, said that the district collector has formed a two-member team to probe into the complaint lodged by the MLA and the executive officer.

Special deputy collector, APIIC, Ch. Sattibabu was asked to inquire into the 'Inam' lands, while SETVIS project director Dr A. Siri was directed to inquire into the passbooks issued by Mr Venkateswarulu.

However, the RDO reiterated that he had followed the procedures laid down by the stategovernment and also added that he will cooperate with the SIT officials.