The State Government has decided to continue the ongoing excise policy but with some modifications to break the liquor cartels and prevent MRP violations.
Though the government for some time actively considered a proposal to take over retail liquor trade on the lines of Tamil Nadu State, the State Cabinet which met here on Wednesday however agreed that the new excise policy to come into effect from July will have the old lottery system of allotment.
About 10 per cent of the liquor shops would be run by the Government and one government liquor shop in each of 664 mandals would come up to ensure MRP compliance by the private shops. The Cabinet directed the officials to frame rules and guidelines for the new policy by month-end and to ensure that only one shop was allotted to one person as it had become a practice in the past for one person to apply for 20 to 30 shops in benami names.
Another feature in this year excise policy is to allow 90 ml liquor in tetra packets as in Karnataka for the benefit of labour and small time workers and prevent adulteration. The workers who cannot afford to purchase full bottles prefer loose liquor which could give scope for dilution once the seal of the bottle was opened. The Cabinet also decided to have enough safeguards to do away with belt shops.
The details of above features would be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting, sources disclosed.
The Cabinet decided to organise International Yoga Day on June 21 at every district with minimum of 5,000 people attended by a district in-charge Minister while the Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu would participate at Vijayawada. The objective is to popularise Yoga and a suggestion was given to appoint one Yoga teacher in every school to teach yoga to students at a young age.
Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu who will be leaving for Japan on June 26 for a six-day-tour believed to have informed his Cabinet colleagues that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singaore Prime Minister gave their confirmation to attend the foundation laying ceremony for the new capital on Vijaya Dasami day. The Japan Prime Minister may also be invited.
The cabinet decided to take up the discussion on new mining policy in the next meeting.
10 per cent of the liquor shops to be run by the government
One govt. liquor shop in each of 664 mandals to come up
