TDP man blames rivals on FFW

VISAKHAPATNAM: Even as the state government initiated an inquiry into rice coupons that were signed by Visakhapatnam Telugu Desam (rural) president and Visakha Dairy chairman A Tulasi Rao, the latter has described the controversy as a creation of his rivals within and outside the dairy.
According to sources, the revenue authorities have called for an explanation from the Visakha Dairy managing director for the lapse.“We have asked him to explain how the rice coupons with a facsimile signature of the dairy chairman could be issued to labourers, the official said. It may be mentioned here that the revenue officials seized rice coupons being distributed with a facsimile signature of Tulasi Rao in Thimmarajupet of Munagapaka mandal this week.
The Visakha Dairy has contributed Rs 3 lakh for the construction of a veterinary hospital in the village with the state government giving its share in the form of rice under the Food-for-Work (FFW) programme.
About 7.5 tonnes of rice was already distributed under the FFW programme by the time the officials uncovered the irregularity.
Official sources said that the rice coupons with Tulasi Rao’s facsimile signature did not have several details like fair price shop dealers code, name, area etc.
Meanwhile, Tulasi Rao, speaking to reporters at Anakapalli on Tuesday, said that some vested interests in the dairy were resorting to false propaganda. The Congress leaders were making an issue of the same in the Assembly. He alleged that a few businessmen running private dairies were behind the issue.