The government is planning to slash liquor prices in its effort to discourage people from consuming illicit liquor

Hyderabad: Excise Minister T Padma Rao on Thursday said the government was pondering over ways to reduce the prices of liquor, for abstaining people from consuming of ID (Illicitly Distilled) liquor and gudamba.  

Replying to a question in the Legislative Council, he informed that the government had already sent a team to the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra to study the viability of slashing prices of liquor. The production of liquor (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) during 2014-15 (June 2 – February 28) was 164.40 lakh cases. Supply had been done to the extent of 151. 45 lakh cases, he informed.      

The Telangana government generated Rs 7,721.27 crore excise revenue between June 2 and February 28. It collected licence fee of Rs 1290.55 crore, excise duty of Rs 1074.46 crore, privilege fees from sale proceeds of Rs 131.29 crore and others Rs 115.94 crore. From VAT by Excise department, the government generated additional revenue of Rs 5109.03 crore.

As part of measures to prevent illegal production of liquor and trafficking, the Minister said the government was taking stringent action by mobilising enforcement teams and State task force teams. The Minister said almost 75 percent of people involved in gudamba business in Dhoolpet had already shifted to other occupations.

He said the government was seriously considering providing employment opportunities for each family involved in this business, apart from rehabilitation. “We are considering spending between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh on each family for ensuring livelihood, rather handing over Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for rehabilitation,” he explained.

Source: THI