The second phase for issuing the Adhaar Cards will begin across the State from April 1.

This was announced by Civil Supplies Minister D Sreedhar Babu in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday. Replying to a question raised by MLAs Payyavula Keshav, Errabelli Dayakar Rao and others during Question Hour, the minister said that the second phase would last for six months.

The minsiter said that as per 2011 Census, the State's population stood at 8.45 crore. Of them, 5.20 crore people have been enrolled for the Aadhar card. The Civil Supplies department has issued nearly three crore and the rest were issued by other agencies. As many as 3.26 crore cards have already been dispatches while nearly 66 lakh cards were under process. He attributed to the delay in delivery of card to the Postal Department.

The minister said that as against the fixed prices of Rs 50 per card by the Planning Commission, the Civil Supplies department has prepared each card for Rs 29. The local bodies and municipal corporations charged Rs 35 for the same work.

Sreedhar Babu said that the first phase of Aadhar Cards was halted due to some technical problems. However, the same has been restored and the remaining population in the State would be issued Aadhar Cards by October end.

TDP MLA Uma Maheshwar Reddy complained that the all Aadhar Cards Centres have been closed on February 15 without the completion of assigned work. He also condemned linking of ration card with Aadhar Cards and alleged that several people were being denied ration for not having the Aadhar Cards.

MIM MLA Ahmed Balala alleged that the delivery of cards have been delayed by six to eight months. Ridiculing the claims being made by the State Government, he said bogus cards were being issued at many places.

BJP MLA E Lakshminarayana complained of lack of transparency in the process of issuing of Aadhar Cards. He also condemned linking of other utility services to Aadhar Cards.