AP revenue department mired in corruption, says Dy CM

Hyderabad, Juily 29: Andhra Pradesh deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murthy today said the level of corruption has come down significantly but rampant malpractice was still prevalent in the state revenue department.

"The Chief Minister, during a review meeting late last night, mentioned that still 42 per cent of the Revenue Department of Andhra Pradesh is steeped in corruption," said Murthy, who holds the Revenue portfolio.

"Since our department has the largest interface with the public, the corruption level appears high. But compared to the previous Congress regime, the corruption level has significantly come down," he told a press conference here.

"We are satisfied with our work and so are the people," Murthy said, referring to his claims of curbing corruption.

"Previously no survey was conducted, so we can't exactly say how much corruption was there during the Congress regime. But it was very obvious that it was high," he said in reply to a question.

The deputy CM's revelation comes at a time when the Chandrababu Naidu government has been gloating over its own "Perception Survey" which strangely claimedthat 74 per cent of households felt either there was no corruption in the state or it has reduced.

Only nine per cent felt corruption had increased in the TDP regime, according to the survey conducted by state Planning Department across AP in May this year.

"We are using technology in a major way in the Revenue Department so as to reduce the public interface and thereby curb corruption," the Deputy CM said.

Special Chief Secretary Jagdish Chander Sharma, Commissioner of Survey, Settlements and Land Records Vani Mohan were also present at the conference.