HYDERABAD: The much awaited Excise Policy of the new state of Telangana has no surprises in store. Though the new excise policy was supposed to be announced in June, the old policy was extended for three months by the government.
However, the state government after much deliberations has now decided to continue with the earlier Excise Policy. This was done after the government decided to drop the proposal to introduce cheap liquor as it came under heavy criticism from people.
“With the dropping of proposed cheap liquor, there is nothing much to change in the existing policy,’’ an official said.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who discussed the new excise policy with Excise Minister T Padma Rao Goud and revenue (excise) principal secretary Ajay Mishra and excise commissioner RV Chandravadan, finally decided to stick to the earlier policy. The only change, is the possible increase of license fee to give permission to bars by 10 per cent. This move is aimed at ramping up revenue of the government.
The existing policy will continue with invitation of applications for new outlets. Thus, the existing practice of issuing license for two years will continue.
After the TRS government took the reins in the state, new outlets were issued licenses for only one year as the government wanted to work out a new excise policy. As the government failed to come up with a new policy, an extension of three months was given to new outlets till the end of September. The Chief Minister instructed officials to invite applications for new retail wine shops by issuing a notification at the earliest. In case of large number of applicants, he told them to go in for draw of lots.
The government will be taking up an awareness campaign, apart from cracking down on gudamba manufacture and sale.