Liquor shops on a high after state government’s gudumba crackdown
Adilabad: The state government’s decision of backtracking on introducing cheap liquor and cracking down on manufacturing of gudumba (distilled liquor) and adulterated toddy has created much demand for the liquor shops though 10 per cent increase in licence fee every year for two years period. The application fee has been increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 25,000 under the new excise policy.
Excise officials received 1,541 applications for just 156 liquor shops and no application for two liquor shops at Kerameri and Singapur near Mancherial in the district. There was nearly 35 per cent rise in applications for liquor shops this year when compared to 974 applications for 158 shops for the year 2014-15.
According to sources, single tender applications were for only 18 liquor shops. This indicates that an average of 10 applicants is competing for licence for each liquor shop.
The Adilabad excise department got revenue of Rs 7.70 crore only with the applications fee which is non- refundable. The liquor contractors and businessmen in liquor strongly believe that there would be good sales of liquor in the coming days as people will be left with only liquor since the state government is cracking down on gudumba and adulterated toddy. Excise officials closed many toddy manufacturing centres in the last one week.
Licence fee of Rs 78 lakh was fixed for liquor shop in the area of having 10,000 population, Rs 81.60 lakh for above 10,000 to 50,000 population and Rs 1.80 crore for 50,000 to 3 lakh population. The licence will be for a two-year period which will be till the end by September 30, 2017. It is surprising to note that officials received 62 applications for liquor ship in Bejjur and this was the highest number of applications for single shop.
Senior excise officer of Adilabad said they never anticipated such huge demand for liquor shops and attributed the trend to tough action initiated against manufacturing and sale of gudumba and adulterated toddy by the state government. He added that the recent raids on gudumba and adulterated toddy across the state and arresting the people involved boosted the confidence of prospective liquor businessmen. It was quite clear that close relatives and family members of the top political leaders were making all out efforts to clinch the liquor ships by crook or hook in benami names. They are also convincing their rivals and offering goodwill to the persons who will get licence in the lucky draw.
The licence holders have to pay the fee in six instalments and bank agreement to avoid the incidents of defaults. There was huge demand for liquor shops located in the centre of Adilabad, Mancherial, Bellampalli and Nirmal towns.
An enthusiastic businessman who got liquor shop licence in Adilabad town said, “It was known fact that there was huge demand for liquor shops this year in the wake of state government’s decision to control gudumba and adulterated toddy. This will force the habitual drinkers to go for liquor consumption and it naturally increases liquor sales and profits in the coming days.”
