New excise policy must end ‘gudumba’ menace: KCR

June 16, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:43 am IST - HYDERABAD:

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has directed Excise Minister T. Padma Rao and the department officials to formulate a new excise policy with very stringent provisions to drive out ‘gudumba’ (illicitly distilled liquor) from the State.

In a review meeting held here on Monday on the formulation of the new liquor policy that is likely to come into effect from July 1, the Chief Minister also interacted with officials on the functioning of the Excise Department, illicit arrack and adulterated toddy and liquor stating that the ills of such beverages were many. Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Principal Secretary (Revenue-Excise) Ajay Mishra, Excise Commission R.V. Chandravadan, Principal Secretary (CMO) S. Narsing Rao and others participated.

The Chief Minister talked about his experiences, particularly while visiting slums in the districts, and stated that women had complained to him about how their families were being ruined with ‘gudumba’. The women of slums had pleaded with him everywhere to restrict the sale of ‘gudumba’ as even 20 to 25 year-olds among them were turning widows due to ID liquor. Expressing concern over ID liquor-related deaths, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao said in spite of implementing various welfare schemes such as Aasara social security pensions, highly subsidised rice, nutritional food for children and pregnant/lactating women and increase in salaries, the ‘gudumba’ menace was playing havoc with the lives of the poor. He directed officials to ready proposals to drive out the ID liquor menace. He sought to know whether a stringent new act was needed or if the preventive detention act was enough. Ending the ‘gudumba’ menace should be the prime focus of the new excise policy, he suggested.

The Chief Minister also cautioned the excise officials against the flow of illicit arrack, adulterated liquor and non-duty paid liquor from other States. Further, he told officials to make available foreign liquor in star hotels as the visits of investors, tourists and businessmen from foreign countries would increase following the unveiling of the new industrial policy.

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