The Telangana government is toying with the idea of lifting the ban on manufacture and sale of arrack (saara) that has been in force for more than two decades.
The ban was imposed in undivided AP in 1993 after several deaths from consumption of spurious arrack.
The TS government is of the view that the ban on arrack had resulted in increased consumption of gudumba (illicitly distilled liquor) leading to severe health problems among lower income groups in urban and rural areas.
The government feels that allowing arrack is better than gudumba.
Moreover, the TRS government’s plans to reopen toddy shops in GHMC limits failed due to stiff opposition from women, besides lack of space to set up toddy shop compounds in core areas of the city.
Of 103 toddy shops, the government planned to open from Dasara in October, only 45 have come into existence so far. Most toddy shop compounds that existed earlier prior to ban on them in 2004 have turned into real estate ventures.
“Consuming gudumba is almost equal to taking poison. People mostly in villages are facing severe health problems on account of gudumba. Men of ages less than 40 years got addicted to gudumba in villages and developed severe health complications. It will be better if arrack is allowed in its place, which will not affect health as much as gudumba. No final decision on allowing arrack again has been taken. The government will consult all the stakeholders before taking any decision,” said Mr T. Padma Rao Goud, minister for excise.
In an informal chat with reporters in the Legislative Assembly lobby on Monday, Mr Rao defended permitting toddy shops and denied chances of supplying adulterated toddy due to lack of toddy trees in GHMC limits.
“It is a misinformation campaign being carried out by some vested interests which will affect the livelihood of the Gowda community, who depend on toddy trees. There are lakhs of trees in neighbouring districts from where toddy can be supplied to the city. The chances of health getting affected on account of adulterated toddy are remote, since only sugar, water will be added to it unlike dangerous chemicals in gudumba,” Mr Rao added.
He said the government could not grant licenses to over 60 toddy shops as no one is coming forward to set them up. “For setting up toddy compounds, rents have shot up to Rs 1.5 lakh per month in the city. Besides they have to shell out up to Rs 20 lakh to pay advance to compound owners. In these circumstances, very few are coming forward to set up toddy shops,” Mr Goud added.
