Milk Adulteration Case: AP CM Announces Rs 10 lakh Ex Gratia
Taking a serious note of the incident, he expressed his anguish & informed that the milk vendor was arrested and that no one would be spared.
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced an ex gratia of `10 lakh each to the families of those who died after allegedly consuming adulterated milk in Choudeshwari Nagar and Swaroop Nagar areas of Rajamahendravaram.
Making a statement in the assembly on Monday, Naidu expressed grief over the incident and assured the house that stringent action would be taken against those responsible after the laboratory reports came. He also said the government would bear the entire cost of treatment for those hospitalised.
Raising the issue in the Assembly, the CM termed the incident “deeply disturbing” and said the government would not spare anyone involved in milk adulteration. He directed officials to ensure free and best possible treatment to at least ten persons who were hospitalised in this connection.
Naidu said several victims were admitted to hospital with symptoms like vomiting, abdominal pain and renal complications requiring dialysis. Clinical tests, he noted, revealed elevated blood urea and serum creatinine levels, indicating serious kidney distress.
Officials confirmed that milk supplied by a private dairy—Varalakshmi Milk Dairy of Narasapuram village in Korukonda mandal—was being distributed daily to 106 families. On Monday however, those who consumed the milk fell ill.
So far, four persons have died in the incident. Two others remained on ventilator support, while eight were undergoing treatment. Of the deceased, three were above 70 years of age and one was 58.
Samples collected from victims have been sent to laboratories in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. Police have taken the dairy operator, Addala Ganeshwara Rao, into custody for questioning. A case has been registered based on a complaint lodged by the families of the deceased.
“If anyone indulges in adulteration for monetary gain, the government will treat it with utmost seriousness. We will not remain indifferent if public health is endangered. The guilty will face the harshest action after the inquiry,” Naidu warned.
The CM conducted a review meeting with senior officials. From his chamber in the assembly, he held discussions with the district collector, SP, and officials of the health and food safety departments.
Officials informed Naidu that milk samples had been sent to laboratories in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. “Preliminary findings indicated that the adulterated milk had been supplied by a local dairy. The owner of the dairy, identified as Ganeswara Rao, has been arrested,” officials said.
Naidu asked senior officials from the food safety and health departments to rush to Rajamahendravaram.
The authorities have collected samples from 75 individuals belonging to families that consumed the milk. Efforts were on to collect samples from others too.
In the afternoon, the CM again reviewed the incident with ministers and senior officials.
