RTI in Andhra Pradesh: Meebhoomi Land Records, APEPDCL/APSPDCL, and AP Capital Region

Andhra Pradesh has several RTI reference resources covering the basics. This article is a focused deep-dive for citizens dealing with the three most document-intensive areas of AP's public administration: Meebhoomi land records, APEPDCL and APSPDCL electricity disputes, and the Amaravati Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) — including its contested Land Pooling Scheme. For each area we explain the specific documents, the administrative hierarchy, precise sample RTI questions, and the correct second appeal authority.

Part 1: Meebhoomi and Land Records in Andhra Pradesh

What Meebhoomi Is

Meebhoomi is Andhra Pradesh's digital land records portal, launched as part of the AP government's land administration modernisation effort. "Mee" means "your" in Telugu — so Meebhoomi is literally "Your Land." The portal provides online access to Adangal (Pahani/field register), ROR Form 1B (Record of Rights), and other land record documents for agricultural survey numbers across all AP districts.

Meebhoomi made routine land record lookups accessible to citizens without a visit to the Mandal office. But like all digitalisation programmes, it has also introduced new categories of disputes: incorrect data entry at the time of digitisation, entries that do not match older physical registers, and records updated without prior notice to the landowner.

When something is wrong in the Meebhoomi record, RTI gives you the right to get the official paper trail — the source documents, the order, and the basis for the entry.

Key Documents in AP's Land Records

Adangal (Pahani / Field Register): The Adangal is the primary village-level land record maintained survey-number-wise. It records the survey number, sub-division number, extent of land, name of the Pattadar (owner), name of the cultivator (if different), soil classification, water source, crops sown, assessment, and any encumbrances or government notations. This is equivalent to what other states call the Pahani, Khatauni, or Jamabandi depending on the region. In AP, always refer to it as the Adangal.

ROR Form 1B (Record of Rights): This is the Pattadar's ownership document — the document that records who owns the land and the basis of that ownership. Unlike the Adangal which is a register of current possession and cultivation, the Form 1B specifically captures the rights and liabilities associated with a survey holding. If there is a discrepancy between who actually owns a piece of land and what the government's records show, the Form 1B is the central document in dispute. RTI for the Form 1B gives you the certified official record.

Pattadar Passbook: The AP government issues Pattadar Passbooks to agricultural landholders — a booklet recording the Pattadar's survey numbers, extents, and title basis. It is updated when mutations occur. If the passbook is lost, was never issued despite ownership, or shows a wrong entry, RTI for the passbook issuance records and the basis of the entry is the formal route.

FMB Sketch (Field Measurement Book Sketch): The FMB sketch is the survey department's graphical record — it shows the physical shape, dimensions, and boundaries of a survey number plot. Think of it as the official map of your individual plot. FMB sketches are critical in boundary disputes, when the recorded area in the Adangal does not match the physical ground, or when a neighbouring property is encroaching. RTI for the FMB sketch for your survey number is filed with the Survey and Land Records department at the district or mandal level.

Village Map: The village-level cadastral map showing all survey numbers in the village, their layout and adjacency. Useful for understanding the broader topography of landholding disputes.

The Revenue Hierarchy in AP

• VRO (Village Revenue Officer) — the village-level revenue official who maintains the Adangal, reports field conditions, and conducts initial inquiries for mutation applications. The VRO reports to the Mandal Revenue Inspector.
• Mandal Revenue Inspector (MRI) — supervises VROs in the Mandal, conducts field inquiries, and prepares reports that go to the Tahsildar.
• Tahsildar — the revenue authority at the Mandal level. This is the AP equivalent of the Tehsildar (many states) or MRO (Telangana). In AP, the term is Tahsildar, not MRO. Mutations (transfer of patta), Adangal corrections, and most land record proceedings are ordered at the Tahsildar level. The Tahsildar is the correct CPIO for most land record RTIs.
• Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) — handles appeals against Tahsildar orders and oversees multiple Mandals within a Revenue Division.
• Joint Collector / District Collector — the apex district-level revenue authority. File RTI with the District Collector for district-wide records or when queries span multiple Mandals.

All these are Andhra Pradesh State government authorities. Second appeals under Section 19(3) go to the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC), not the Central Information Commission.

Mutation in AP: "Dharani Updating" / Transfer of Patta

In Andhra Pradesh, the process of updating land ownership records when land changes hands — through sale, inheritance, partition, court decree, or gift — is referred to as mutation or "transfer of patta." The formal term used in AP revenue proceedings is mutation (patta transfer). It is processed and ordered at the Tahsildar level.

Note: "Dharani" in the AP context is a different product from Telangana's Dharani — AP has used this term for its own land records system but the platforms are distinct. Always refer to Meebhoomi specifically when discussing AP's online land records portal.

Assigned Land in AP: AP has a large quantum of Assigned Land — land granted by the government under the AP Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977 to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and other economically vulnerable families. This land is non-alienable — it cannot be sold, mortgaged, or transferred. Disputes about encroachment on assigned land, purported sales of assigned plots by the assignee, and cancellation of assignments are common RTI subjects.

RTI for: the assignment order for Survey Number X, village X, mandal X — including the assignee's name, the date of assignment, the conditions imposed, and any complaints or enquiry proceedings for violation of assignment conditions — gives you the documentary basis for any legal proceeding.

Amaravati Capital Region: The Land Pooling Scheme

This is AP-specific and historically significant. The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA, formerly APCRDA) — now reconstituted as CRDA — was established to develop Amaravati as the new state capital after bifurcation. The land for Amaravati was assembled not through compulsory acquisition but through a Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) — a voluntary mechanism under which farmers gave their agricultural land to the authority in exchange for "Returnable Plots" (developed residential and commercial plots returned from the same land bank) and Development Rights Certificates (DRCs, giving the farmer a right to developed plots in the scheme).

The LPS covered approximately 33,000 acres across 29 villages in the Krishna district. Many thousands of farmers participated. The scheme has been mired in disputes since 2019 — a change in government led to a policy shift away from Amaravati, construction halted, returnable plots were not delivered, and many farmers who surrendered productive agricultural land received neither their Returnable Plots nor their compensation in the promised form.

CRDA is a state body under the AP government. Second appeals go to the APIC, not the CIC.

RTI is a powerful tool for LPS-affected farmers:

1. Please provide details of the Land Pooling Scheme application for Survey Number X, Village X, Mandal X, Krishna District — including the area pooled, the date of execution of the Land Pooling Agreement, and the Reconstituted Plot (RP) or Returnable Plot allotted in exchange.
2. Please provide certified copies of the Returnable Plot allotment order for the applicant's Survey Number X, the RP number allotted, its location within the layout, and the current development status of that RP.
3. Please provide the Development Rights Certificate (DRC) issued to the landowner under Survey Number X — the certificate number, date of issue, and the description of development rights conferred.
4. Please provide the current status of development and handing-over of Returnable Plots allotted to farmers in Village X under the LPS — the number of RPs allotted, number of RPs physically handed over, and reasons for any delay.
5. Please provide copies of the master plan for Zone X in Amaravati and the current development status of infrastructure in that zone as of date.

Sample RTI Questions for Meebhoomi Land Records

Address to the Tahsildar of the relevant Mandal:

1. Please provide a certified copy of the Adangal for Survey Number X, Sub-division X (if applicable), Village X, Mandal X, District X, as currently maintained in the AP land records system (Meebhoomi), showing all columns including Pattadar name, cultivator name, extent, soil classification, and encumbrances.
2. Please provide a certified copy of ROR Form 1B for Survey Number X, Village X, Mandal X, District X — showing the rights and liabilities of the current Pattadar.
3. Please provide certified copies of all mutation/patta transfer proceedings for Survey Number X, Village X, Mandal X, District X conducted during the period from year to to year — including the mutation application, the VRO/MRI field inquiry report, any notices issued to interested parties, objections received, and the final mutation order.
4. Please provide the FMB sketch for Survey Number X, Village X, Mandal X, as maintained by the Survey and Land Records department.

Part 2: APEPDCL and APSPDCL — Electricity Distribution

Two DISCOMs Covering All of AP

Andhra Pradesh's electricity distribution is split between two state government companies:

APEPDCL (Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited) covers the eastern and coastal districts: Visakhapatnam (Vizag), East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, and the surrounding coastal belt. If your electricity bill comes from APEPDCL, you are in one of these districts.

APSPDCL (Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited) covers the southern and interior districts: Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa (YSR District), Chittoor, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, and Prakasam. APSPDCL serves a geographically larger area with a higher proportion of agricultural and rural consumers.

Both APEPDCL and APSPDCL are AP state government companies incorporated under the Companies Act, substantially owned and controlled by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Both are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. Second appeals for both go to the AP Information Commission (APIC), not the CIC.

APERC (Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission) is the statutory regulator — it sets tariffs, approves standards, and hears consumer complaints at the regulatory level. Important clarification: after the bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the erstwhile APERC was reorganised. Today, APERC functions as the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission serving Andhra Pradesh, while a separate TSERC functions for Telangana. Both are state bodies; second appeals go to APIC and TIC respectively, not to the CIC.

When to Use RTI for Electricity in AP

Meter reading records — actual vs estimated: APEPDCL and APSPDCL serve large rural territories where actual meter reading is sometimes replaced by estimated billing. RTI for the meter reading register entries for your Consumer Number across 12 billing months — specifying for each month whether the reading was actual or estimated, the recorded reading, and the meter reader's name and designation — creates a documented comparison to challenge inflated estimated bills.

New connection status: Both utilities have service connection timelines prescribed under APERC regulations. If your application for a new domestic or agricultural connection has been pending beyond the prescribed period, RTI for: the application reference number, the current processing stage, the officer responsible at the stuck stage, and the APERC-prescribed timeline for your connection category — documents the delay.

Agricultural connection metering and category policy: In AP's agricultural belt — particularly Kurnool, Anantapur, and Rayalaseema — disputes about tariff category (metered vs unmetered agricultural connection), the HP rating of a pump connection, and whether the connection was correctly categorised as agricultural are common. RTI for the service connection records for your Consumer Number, including the HP sanctioned, the tariff category, and the basis of categorisation, establishes the official record.

Voltage fluctuation complaints: Frequent voltage fluctuations damage equipment and pose safety risks. If you have filed a complaint with the distribution company and received no response, RTI for: the complaint registration record, the date of inspection if any, the inspection report, and the action taken or the reasons no action was taken — documents the utility's response (or lack of it) to your complaint.

Disconnection notice and arrears: If you have received a disconnection notice and dispute the arrears, RTI for: all bills issued for Consumer Number XXX for the past 24 months, the meter reading basis for each bill, the calculation of the arrears claimed, and the disconnection order — gives you the full documented record.

Sample RTI Questions for APEPDCL / APSPDCL

Address to the Division-level CPIO for your area:

1. Please provide the meter reading register entries for Consumer Number XXX for each month from Month/Year to Month/Year, indicating for each month whether the reading was actual or estimated, the units recorded, and the name and designation of the meter reader.
2. Please provide the full billing history for Consumer Number XXX from Month/Year to Month/Year, including monthly units, tariff category, amount billed, and payment recorded.
3. Please provide the service connection file for Consumer Number XXX — the original connection application, HP and tariff category sanctioned, date of connection, and any subsequent modifications to the connection category.
4. Please provide the application details, current stage, and reason for pending status for new electricity connection application bearing reference number XXX dated date, applied at premises address.

Part 3: CRDA, VMRDA, and Urban Development

CRDA (Capital Region Development Authority)

CRDA is the planning and development authority for the Amaravati Capital Region. It handles layout approvals, infrastructure development, building permissions in the capital zone, and land-use planning. As discussed under the Land Pooling Scheme section above, CRDA is a state body and second appeals go to APIC.

Beyond LPS matters, CRDA handles building approvals in the capital region townships. RTI use cases: building plan approval status for a plot in Amaravati's residential zones; occupancy certificate status; infrastructure development status for a specific sector.

VMRDA (Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority)

VMRDA is the equivalent planning authority for the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region — the northern coastal zone of AP anchored by Vizag city. VMRDA handles layout approvals, master plan zoning, development permissions, and building rules for the Vizag metro area.

VMRDA is an AP State body. Second appeals go to APIC.

RTI use cases with VMRDA: layout approval status for a plot bearing Plot Number X in Layout Name, VMRDA approval number; whether a specific area falls within a CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) restriction, industrial buffer zone, or reserved open space; building plan approval and OC status for a property in the VMRDA zone.

Central Bodies in AP: These Go to CIC, Not APIC

Several major institutions in AP are Central Government bodies. Their RTI applications go on rtionline.gov.in and second appeals go to the CIC, not APIC:

A note on BrahMos Aerospace: BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited is a joint venture between DRDO (India) and NPO Mashinostroyenia (Russia). Queries about BrahMos that touch on defence capabilities, propulsion systems, or classified technical parameters are exempt under Section 8(1)(a) (national security, sovereignty, strategic or scientific interests). Administrative or procurement information that does not touch these matters may be accessible, but expect Section 8(1)(a) to be invoked for most substantive queries.

ISRO / Sriharikota: RTI applications about ISRO's launch programmes, satellite technology, and research are administratively processed but information about specific launch vehicle technical specifications, satellite payloads serving defence purposes, or security arrangements at the launch site may be withheld under Section 8(1)(a) (strategic and scientific interests) and Section 8(1)(e) (fiduciary relationship with foreign partner states). Administrative information — recruitment, expenditure, contracts for non-classified procurement — is accessible.

Practical Filing Tips for Andhra Pradesh

For Meebhoomi/land RTI: Always include the Survey Number (not Khasra), the Village name, the Mandal name, and the District. If you are asking about the FMB sketch, address the RTI to the Survey and Land Records department at the district level (not the Tahsildar). Tahsildar handles Adangal, Form 1B, and mutation records; Survey department handles FMB sketches and village maps.

For CRDA Amaravati LPS RTI: Include your Land Pooling Agreement reference number or your Survey Number and Village name. CRDA is a large authority managing thousands of acres and tens of thousands of agreements — without the specific survey number or agreement reference, the CPIO cannot identify your record.

For APEPDCL/APSPDCL RTI: Always lead with your 11-digit Consumer Number, which appears on every electricity bill. Include the billing month and year for billing disputes. For new connection applications, include the application reference number from your acknowledgement.

BPL applicants: Under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act, BPL cardholders are exempt from all RTI fees. State this in the application body and attach a copy of your BPL card. This applies to all public authorities — state and central.

RTI fee for AP state bodies: AP has its own RTI Rules framed under Section 28 of the RTI Act. The fee amount for AP state RTI filings should be verified on the official AP government RTI portal before filing, as state-level fees can differ from the Central Government's ₹10 fee and may be revised.

First Appeal timing: Section 19(1) requires you to file your First Appeal within 30 days of the date of the PIO's decision, or within 30 days of the expiry of the 30-day response period if the PIO gave no response. Missing this deadline prejudices your appeal.

Second Appeal to APIC: Under Section 19(3), your Second Appeal to the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission must be filed within 90 days of the date of the First Appellate Authority's decision (or within 90 days from the date the First Appeal should have been decided, if no decision was given).

Section 20 penalties: The APIC can impose a personal penalty of ₹250 per day on the PIO (up to ₹25,000) for unjustified failure to respond, provide information, or for providing false information. Reference this in your First Appeal when the PIO's conduct has been clearly obstructive — it encourages compliance at the appeal stage before the matter reaches the Commission.

From a wrong Pattadar name in your Meebhoomi Adangal, to an inflated APSPDCL bill with no meter reading basis, to an Amaravati Returnable Plot that was allotted but never delivered — the documented record is in an official file somewhere. RTI is your legal right to see it on paper, with a certified seal. RTISathi.com can help you draft and structure RTI applications for Central Government bodies in AP. For AP State bodies — Tahsildar, CRDA, VMRDA, APEPDCL, APSPDCL — use the guidance in this article and the AP government's official RTI portal to file correctly, with your second appeal going to the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission.