Minister Kollu Ravindra said that a quarter bottle of quality liquor is now being sold at Rs. 99, and that permissions have been given to sell 81 new brands and 47 international brands of liquor. The minister explained that action has also been taken to ensure that procurement is also transparent and the CID is investigating the irregularities related to liquor during the previous government.
Replying to a short-term debate in the Legislative Assembly on the new excise policy, Minister Ravindra was furious that the previous YSRCP government had implemented a flawed liquor policy. He alleged that people lost their lives due to adulterated liquor and also the state government had lost revenue.
Having promised prohibition in phases, he lamented that they kept 3392 shops and 840 bars. He reminded that people have become accustomed to adulterated liquor due to the high price of liquor, and that illegal liquor has come from neighboring states. He accused the liquor policy of being brought only for the selfish interests and benefits of the YSRCP elders.
The minister also said that irregularities had taken place on a large scale in sand, mining and liquor. He reminded that 1.70 crore liters of illegal liquor had been seized in connection with liquor and 70,000 people had been arrested. He said that the transportation of ganja had also increased significantly due to the liquor rates.
Ravindra said that 17,500 people had been arrested in ganja cases alone and that the previous government did not even care about the quality of liquor. He said that only its own brands were sold in government liquor shops. He clarified that the shops were handed over to the private sector as part of the new liquor policy.
He said that the government received an income of Rs. 1800 crore through applications alone, and 10 percent of the shops were reserved for the Kallu Geeta castes. He also said that premium shops have been allocated to women. He said that they are currently accepting automated orders to prevent irregularities. He said that they have decided to use 2 percent of the selling price of liquor for de-addiction and drug control.
