Rajahmundry: As the Election Commission of India will notify the poll schedule shortly, bringing the Model Code of Conduct into effect, AP excise authorities are coming up with an action plan to keep a tab mainly on bootlegging of non-duty paid (NDP) liquor from neighbouring states such as Karnataka, Goa and others as it creates a dent in the revenue of the state exchequer.
In the general elections held in April/May 2014, the state excise authorities noticed huge quantum of non-duty paid liquor being imported from Goa into the state, by the political parties, to influence voters. The authorities reportedly booked more than 34 cases, exclusively on illegal import of NDP liquor into the state and many among those cases are still under investigation, while in some cases, chargesheets were filed.
To avoid this in the en-suing general elections in the state, the excise authorities are gathering intelligence to find out from which state, a section of political leaders and others are trying to import NDP liquor into the state so that they can curb such illegal practice.
When huge quantum of NDP liquor gets imported into the state, it results in loss of revenue in the form of duty paid to the government and also affects the quantum of sale of liquor brewed locally and this finally results in huge amount of revenue loss to the state. Moreover, recently, senior excise officials from AP, along with excise deputy commissioners from the district, including East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Kurnool having common border with TS and also from TS, Karnataka and other states, having common border with AP and TS, met in Hyderabad recently to chalk out an action plan to curb illegal transport of liquor from one state to other, to serve to the voters to derive political advantage.
After elaborate discussions, the excise officials arrived at a conclusion to see that no liquor from any other state would be allowed into their state as it would not only affect their sources of revenue from liquor sale but also influence voters, in violation of the norms of the Election Commission of India.
On one side, AP excise authorities are going to keep a tab on the quantity of liquor being sold. , during the election period, to ensure that no illegal import of NDP liquor is taking place and also, when huge quant-um of liquor is being so-ld, it gives an indication that some political leaders are in a purchasing spree to influence the voters.
As per norms, the auth-orities can take measures to ensure that sale of liquor does not cross mo-re than 50 per cent of the previous sale on the sa-me day in the previous year and in case it happens, they will swing into action to curb any illegal practice.
East Godavari excise deputy commissioner B. Arun Rao said: “We are taking all steps to ensure that no NDP liquor from any other state will be allowed to be imported into the state, in addition to keeping tab on the quantum of sale of liquor at each liquor retail outlet during the elections to ensure that no illegal practice will be allowed to affect the source of revenue to the state.”
