GUNTUR: Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao has ordered an inquiry into the allegation of corruption by revenue officials in enumerating people for payment of compensation for losing land under the Pulichintala project.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, the Minister said there were allegations that some people had received Rs.5,000 for getting their names added in the list of beneficiaries or getting payment of compensation amount. "I have ordered Joint Collector Rahul Bojja to inquire into the whole affair and initiate action against those responsible for it, if the allegations are true," he said.

The Government does not see Rs.6,000 crores as a major source of revenue from sale of liquor and was effectively curbing the running of illegal liquor shops (belt shops), the Minister said. Ineligible people holding assigned land had been given 90 days to voluntarily disclose such holding and surrender it to the Government by April 29, the Minister said. The district administration was issuing notices to such landholders and if they did not respond by April 29, appropriate action would be initiated, he pointed out.

Compensation to farmers, who were affected by the Ogni cyclone, was released completely except for Rs.4 crores from Guntur district, which was yet to be cleared by the Finance Department, the Minister said. This amount would be met from the State Government funds as the Calamity Fund had got exhausted, he said.

"Gram sevkas are not permanent employees, they are part-time workers and minimum wages does not apply to them," the Revenue Minister said and appealed to them to join duties ending their agitation.

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