Villages to boycott toddy

ealising the danger posed by ‘synthetic’ toddy, more and more villages in Adilabad are vowing to boycott the deadly drink. While villagers in Kamol in Bhainsa mandal, Khodad in Talamadugu mandal and the temple town of Basar in Mudhole mandal have already adopted the ban on sale of spurious toddy, the ‘scared’ inhabitants of Kirgul (K), Kirgul (B), Sawargaon, Bidrelli, Kouta, Talapur and Labdi villages in Mudhole are going to follow suit October 2 onwards which is also the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

“This will counter balance the situation arising out of the government’s reluctance in cracking down on the sale of synthetic toddy in spite of 17 persons dying so far,” observed an official of the Prohibition and Excise Department on conditions of anonymity. “Yes, despite the deaths and the predicament of thousands of addicts, the government is soft pedalling on control of spurious toddy,” he revealed.

The Telangana government is in an unenviable position being faced with a dilemma over containing the menace of the synthetic toddy. “If it does not allow distribution of the ‘spiked’ drink scores of addicts will face certain death and if does, it will be exposing many more to the danger of the deadly drink,” the Excise official spelled the dilemma in question. “No, the government should completely ban toddy,” demanded Posani of Gollapet locality in Nirmal town, who lost her husband Sidda Linganna two days ago and daughter Rani six months ago. “Banning it will save lives of many more,” she provided the rationale behind her demand.

Posani’s concern is also echoed by young widow Rajavva whose husband Bitla Ashok, also of Gollapet, left behind two children for her to fend. “The toddy should be banned so that no woman is rendered as helpless as I am,” said the grieving daily wage-earner.

Meanwhile, the Area Hospital in Nirmal and the primary health centre in Basar continued to receive patients exhibiting extreme effects of withdrawal symptoms.

Basar PHC Medical Officer P. Sindhuri told

The Hindu on Tuesday that about 50 patients were treated for withdrawal symptoms during the last 24 hours and more would benefit from the mega health camp being organised on Wednesday.

“Yes, we are aware of the talk on ban of toddy in villages surrounding Basar from October 2,” she disclosed. “We are geared up to meet the challenge,” she sounded confident.

If government does not allow distribution of the ‘spiked’ drink, scores of addicts will face certain death and if it does, it will be exposing many more to the danger

Excise official