Andhra Pradesh Excise and Prohibition Department has geared up to implement the Supreme Court’s orders with regard to closure of liquor shops located adjacent to the national and state highways. The department has decided to get the shops closed by March 31 despite strong resistance from the liquor shop owners.
As many as 198 shops out of 232 have been served notices as they are located below 500 meter radius from the national and state highways.
Only 55 shop owners have made arrangements to shift to new premises. Others are seeking more time for the relocation.
According to shop owners, the Andhra Pradesh Excise and Prohibition Department collects ‘shifting charges’ up to ₹35,000 per shop. They are not moving on their own, but following the guidelines of the apex court.
In such a case, shifting charges should not be collected from them, they argue.
The licences of many shops come to an end in June. The liquor shop owners feel that they find it difficult to get rented premises only for three months.
They say they are not sure of getting licences renewed after June and it is not possible for them to relocate at this juncture.
Forcible closure
“We will resort to forcible closure of the shops if the owners fail to fall in line by March 31. The department has given enough time for their closure,” says a senior official.
The department anticipates huge drop in revenue collection from April onwards. “The monthly sale is around ₹40 crore per month in Srikakulam. It may come down to ₹15 crore if the rule is strictly enforced,” says another official.
