HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to extend the term of the liquor licences by another three months as the new policy it wants to implement from July 1 is yet to take a concrete shape.

The state government had earlier indicated that it would follow the Tamil Nadu model and take over the retail sale of liquor in the 13 districts. But with the term of the liquor licences slated to end on June 30 and the new retailing system far from implementation, the state has no choice but to extend the term by another three months.

The move could also be because of the strong liquor lobby that includes TDP ministers and MLAs who want the existing system to continue as they stand to profit financially from it. "The lobby has been putting pressure on chief minister Chandrababu Naidu not to go for the state takeover of retail liquor distribution," said sources.

AP is keen on studying the Kerala system, with AP excise minister Kollu Ravindra slated to visit that state later this week.Kerala recently imposed restrictions on liquor sale, reduced the number of retail outlets and refused to renew hundreds of bar licences. Kerala chief minister Oomen Chandy has claimed that the new policy is intended to take the state towards total prohibition.

Sources in the excise department claimed that the AP government is in fact trying to buy some time to make up its mind whether to go for government takeover of retail sale or continue with the existing system. Since the gov ernment has not yet come out with the notification on the new liquor policy, members of the AP Wine Dealers' Association are of the opinion that new pol icy would take a few more months to be put in place.

"The new policy should get published first, after which objections need to be invited," point ed out Rayala Subba Rao, president, AP Wine Dealers' Asso ciation.

If the AP government wants to implement the new system, it would have to appoint more than 17,000 employees to man the retail outlets. "Most importantly, the state government should find 4,300 premises in all towns, municipalities and cities to set up the outlets. The existing outlets are owned by private licence holders and once their licence expires, they will vacate the same," pointed out an excise official.

Other issues such as buying big refrigerators, computer networking, entering into agreements with distilleries and breweries for regular supply and transport facilities will take at least three months time, said the excise sources. "Opening bank accounts for each retail outlet and ensuring safe financial transaction every day would be another major challenge for the government in the wake of incidents of large scale financial irregularities in Tamil Nadu," pointed a senior excise official.