Chittoor Dairy was shutdown to benefit Heritage, alleges Jagan

Visakhapatnam One of the largest cooperatives dairies in Andhra Pradesh, Chittoor Dairy known as Vijaya Dairy was made sick and liquidated by the erstwhile TDP Government to benefit Heritage founded by the Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu's family, alleged Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday,

Slamming the TDP leader for 'killing' Chittoor Dairy to promote Heritage Dairy, he said while performing bhoomi pooja for revival works by Gujarat-based cooperative major Amul, that now the people of Chittoor will be benefited by getting quality products and direct employment opportunity for 5,000 and indirectly two lakh through procurement centres and distribution outlets.

Amul after clearing debts worth Rs 182 crore, as part of MoU signed with the Andhra Pradesh Government, will be investing Rs 385 crore on various works that include Rs 150 crore on establishing India's largest ice factory, milk processing for one lakh litres and production centres for buttermilk, cheese, paneer, yogurt and sweets in the next 10 months.

The Chief Minister said the production capacity for milk processing will be increased in phases and declared that he had fulfilled the promise made by him during the run-up to the 2019 elections for reviving the Chittoor Dairy.

The conspiracy to rundown Chittoor Dairy was so visible that while it suffered losses during the 10 years, Heritage continued to grow with huge profits every year. “The dairy was closed abruptly leaving lakhs of farmers in the lurch as the management kept pending huge amounts as arrears. The government repaid the dues of Rs 182 crore and Amul will invest Rs 385 crore for its revival,” he said, adding that it would invest Rs 150 crore in the first phase.

“Not only the Chittoor Dairy, Chandrababu Naidu sold out several sugar factories and paper mills in cooperative sector and public sector units like Allwyn and Republic Forge to TDP leaders and sycophants like Devender Goud and Nama Nageswara Rao for peanuts or closed them down taking kickbacks for encouraging private units,” he said.

After closing down or selling 54 such units for peanuts, through the Department of Implementation during his rule, Chandrababu Naidu unabashedly brought about a book called ‘Privatisation, a success story in AP,” he alleged.

After launching Jagananna Palavelluva in December 2020 in partnership with Amul Dairy, the milk collection rates went up manifold benefiting the dairy farmers, he said adding that it has forced the private dairies to increase the milk collection rates due to competition.

Coming down heavily on the YSRCP Government, TDP State president K. Yerran Naidu said instead of reviving the Chittoor Dairy, a pre-poll promise made by Jagan Mohan Reddy, now it has been 'gifted away' on a golden platter to the Gujarat-based dairy by the State Government.

Minister for Dairy Development and Fisheries Seediri Appalaraju refuted the charge and alleged that the TDP when it was in power deliberately forced the Chittoor Dairy to become bankrupt driving many locals out of their jobs. He said the credit of putting the dairy right on track goes to Chief Minister Reddy.

Tourism Minister RK Roja said Chandrababu Naidu always tried to loot the exchequer through dubious means to amass his ill-gotten wealth.