Mysore which is to scrap prohibition from October 15 is in a quandary as it is facing acute shortage of toddy trees and tappers. In order to overcome the shortage of toddy, the Andhra Government has been requested by the Mysore Government to release vast stretches of the area under toddy in the Chittoor and the Ananthapur district borders, for tapping by Mysore. There is shortage of toddy tappers because the bulk of them had to abandon their traditional occupation following the introduction of Prohibition in stages 20 years ago. The toddy contractors would now have to initiate the process of re-grouping the tappers, by paying higher wages. According to 1944 figures, the consumption of toddy in 14 districts was of the order of 50 lakh gallons a year, and that of arrack 4,52,000 litres.
