The Prohibition and Excise departments are flooded with complaints of liquor outlets
The Prohibition and Excise departments are flooded with complaints of liquor outlets
Hyderabad: The Prohibition and Excise departments are flooded with complaints of liquor outlets, toddy shops and bar and restaurants being operated within a 100 meter radius of religious places, hospitals (30-bedded and above) and educational institutions.
The State Excise Policy doesn’t permit operation of alcohol serving outlets within 100 meter of the aforesaid premises. However, officials say action for nuisance and violation of Excise norms cannot be taken unless these religious places and institutes are registered with Endowment, Wakf, Education and other concerned departments.
B. Jyoti Kiran, superintendent (Hyderabad), Exc-ise and Prohibition department admitted, “We do get complaints of liquor shops, and bar and restaurants operating within the 100 m radius.
However, most the educational institutes, temples or mosques are not registered with the concerned department or the Wakf Board. Even if any registered schools are found within the restricted zone, they have usually come up after the (liquor) license was issued.”
Mr Srinivas Reddy of the Association for Promoting Social Act (APSA), said, “We have approached the Excise department several times complaining about licenses being issued to liquor shops or others in violation to norms.
However, officials measure the distance of these alcohol serving shops along the road, where even a ‘U-turn’ is also taken into measurement, instead of straight across the road. This way, none of the liquor shops fall within 100 m of the prohibited area.”
‘Foreign’ Liquor seized By Excise department:
Spurious foreign liquor business is thriving in the city. The Excise and Prohibition department (city wing) recently seized a huge quantity of non-duty paid foreign branded liquor.
International liquor brands like Johnny Walker, Black Dog, Double Black Red Label, Green Label, Tequila Jose Cuervo, were among other brands seized, while being transported into city limits. Foreign brands constitute 10 per cent of the total liquor business in the city, according to the Twin Cities Wine Merch-ants Association.
A. Chandraiah said, “International liquor brands, even if imported from duty-free airport cannot be than Rs 3,000. But, in the market it is being sold for around Rs 2,700 to 2,800 against the actual price of Rs 4,000 to 5,000.”
Venkateswara Rao, president of the Twin Cities Wine Merchants’ Association said, “It is not just individuals who are running the business, but also certain licensed shops. Recently, Sona Wines at Punjagutta was raided and huge quantity of foreign liquor was seized.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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