The Yeddyurappa government’s plans to organise a mega celebration this month when it completes two years in office, took a body blow on Sunday with the food and civil supplies minister, Mr Haratalu Halappa, resigning following a media report that he had allegedly assaulted the wife of a friend in November last year. His resignation has been accepted by the Governor.
With the gram panchayat polls just a week away, it remains to be seen how this scandal affects the prospects of the party.
The report which was published in a Kannada daily said that Mr Halappa had visited the friend’s house in Vinoba Extension in Shimoga, his home district after completing his engagements in November. After having food that night, Mr Halappa allegedly expressed his desire to stay overnight and was welcomed by his friend.
Around midnight, Mr Halappa reportedly began crying in discomfort. His friend rushed to the room and was told by the minister that as his blood pressure had dropped, some tablets should be brought from the Inspection Bungalow (IB) nearby.
The friend rushed to the IB but could not trace either the car driver or the gunman. He returned home planning to get the minister admitted to hospital.
He was shocked to find his wife sobbing and Mr Halappa hurriedly getting dressed. The woman told her husband that she had been raped by the minister. After sending his resignation to the CM, Mr Halappa denied being involved in the incident. “I feel the baseless report has been published only to tarnish my image,” he added.
Showing posts with label Civil Supplies minister. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Civil Supplies minister. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
State has no space for rice
The civil supplies minister, Mr J. Krishna Rao, said on Monday that there was shortage of space in godowns to store rice.
“At present there is facility only to store 35 lakh metric tones,” he told mediapersons. “Earlier, we could store up to 90 lakh tonnes using the open space in the premises of Food Corporation of India godowns. This problem would last for another month.”
The minister said that every month three lakh tonnes of rice would be taken out from the godowns for the public distribution system and another two and half tonnes of boiled rice for export to other states. This would create space for fresh stocks, he added. Mr Krishna Rao added that the government would exempt the Nellore variety of rice from levy as the farmers were not getting support price. The Centre would issue directions in this regard in a few days and this would enable the millers to buy entire stocks without giving the mandatory quota of levy to the government, he disclosed. The minister said that no permission would be given for the export of rice abroad and added that the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, would soon take a decision on export of rice to other states by road.
With regard to ration cards, the minister said 19 lakh cards were identified as bogus in the preliminary survey but the number might come down after holding gram sabhas where the cancellation of cards of eligible people could be corrected.
Mr Rao said that though the iris system would be made effective because of statewide connectivity, use of biometric machines at fair price shops would take some more time.
The pilot study in 100 villages was already on, he said.
“At present there is facility only to store 35 lakh metric tones,” he told mediapersons. “Earlier, we could store up to 90 lakh tonnes using the open space in the premises of Food Corporation of India godowns. This problem would last for another month.”
The minister said that every month three lakh tonnes of rice would be taken out from the godowns for the public distribution system and another two and half tonnes of boiled rice for export to other states. This would create space for fresh stocks, he added. Mr Krishna Rao added that the government would exempt the Nellore variety of rice from levy as the farmers were not getting support price. The Centre would issue directions in this regard in a few days and this would enable the millers to buy entire stocks without giving the mandatory quota of levy to the government, he disclosed. The minister said that no permission would be given for the export of rice abroad and added that the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, would soon take a decision on export of rice to other states by road.
With regard to ration cards, the minister said 19 lakh cards were identified as bogus in the preliminary survey but the number might come down after holding gram sabhas where the cancellation of cards of eligible people could be corrected.
Mr Rao said that though the iris system would be made effective because of statewide connectivity, use of biometric machines at fair price shops would take some more time.
The pilot study in 100 villages was already on, he said.
