District Collector S. Venkateswar formally launched the e-dip lottery system on Thursday (March 19) for allotment of plots in Settipalle, the once-controversial land parcel on the outskirts of Tirupati.

Of the total 2,111 beneficiaries, the first phase of allotment of 1,711 plots was done on Sankranti day, while the second phase for 337 plots was taken up on the auspicious Ugadi day.

Settipalle, declared as an Inam estate village u/s 1(4) of the A.P. Estate (Abolition & Conversion into Ryotwari) Act 1948, was taken over by the government in 1979. As the enjoyers of these lands represented to the Collector and the CMO in 2017 seeking issue of pattas, as they were under their enjoyment since the time of their ancestors, the district administration decided to conduct enjoyment survey.

Aiming to address the decades-old clamour, the government came up with a land sharing pattern of 30% for agricultural lands and 50% for house sites, excluding the common area, with Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) as the executing agency.

TUDA Chairman C. Divakar Reddy said the Settipalle village would be transformed into a planned model township benefitting the long-time settlers. Infrastructure facilities like water, sewage, electricity, roads and street lights would be taken up by TUDA by monetising 65 acres. The State government has waived off registration fee for these sites, said Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu.

The Collector said registration of sites would be taken up shortly in coordination with TUDA and revenue officials.