Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited all set to rent shops

Vijayawada: As the State Government issued directions to Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) to set up around 777 liquor retail outlets to sell liquor from September 1 onwards, its officials concerned are hurrying up to take shops on rental basis, to appoint manpower on outsourcing method, for fixing transporter of liquor and to purchase infrastructure to set up the outlets in the state.

As the YSR Congress Government intends to impose prohibition on sale of liquor in a phased manner, as part of its efforts to fulfil its poll promise in the state, it allowed renewal of licence for an extended period of three months from July 1 to September 30, 2019, as the existing two year licence period to 4,377 retail outlets got over by June 30, 2019. However, 777 retail outlets did not opt for renewal of licence for the extended three months period. So, the State Government directed the APSBCL to avail the premises of 777 retail outlets to set up government run liquor outlets there unlike the earlier proposal to set up only 10 Government Retail Outlets in each district as a pilot project.

In addition to this, as the extended period of three months to the existing 3,600 liquor outlets will be over by September 30, the APSBCL authorities are supposed to reduce the number of outlets by 20 per cent and begin retail outlets on their own to sell liquor and beer. So, the authorities are supposed to set up 2,800 retail outlets in the first year itself in the state and run them.

At present, the APSBCL authorities are getting ready to issue four notifications. The first one is meant to invite quotations from the owners of the premises of old liquor outlets, expressing their interest to lent out their premises. The second one is meant for transporters who can transport liquor or beer from wholesale depots to the retail outlets.

The third one pertains to supply of infrastructure to be set up in the retail outlet while the fourth notification is meant to recruit shop supervisors and salesmen on out-sourcing basis. All this exercise is supposed to be completed within seven days from the date of issuance of notifications.

Meanwhile, the State Government constituted four committees, headed by the Joint Collector in each district, to execute four tasks. They include selection of shop premises, recruitment of man power, purchase of furniture or infrastructure and to fix transport charges for liquor and beer. The staff pattern for each liquor retail outlet is specified and accordingly, there will be a shop supervisor, with an academic qualification of graduation with computer knowledge, three shop salesmen for urban and two for rural areas with intermediate qualification and one watch and ward person. The age group of personnel will range from 21 to 40 years. Remuneration for shop supervisor is fixed at ` 17,500 plus PF and ESI and for salesman, it is ` 15,000 plus PF and ESI.

APSBCL General Manager G. Joseph said: “As per the directions from the State Government, we are going to set up 777 liquor retail outlets very soon and they will become functional from September 1st onwards. We are making all necessary arrangements to sell liquor and beer from these outlets.”

Infographics:

i) Once 777 liquor outlets are set up, they are expected to run for a period of one year as the government wants to enter into an agreement for renting premises for the same period.

ii) From October 1st onwards, as the number of existing liquor retail outlets being run by private licencees gets trimmed by 20% per annum, the APSBCL authorities have to repeat the same exercise of setting up their own retail outlets.

iii) For each retail outlet, a minimum of 150 sq. feet. to a maximum of 300 sq. ft. is required and it shall be on ground floor with a provision for single entry and exit.

iv) Reservation to be followed in recruiting man power in retail outlets with the district as a base unit.

v) The number of retail outlets likely to come up district wise include: Srikakulam-43, Vizianagaram-9, Visakhapatnam-42, East Godavari-105, West Godavari-76, Krishna-66, Guntur-66, Prakasam-78, Nellore-88, Kadapa-72, Kurnool-22, Chittoor-78 and Anantapur-46.