HYDERABAD/ADILABAD: The Prohibition and Excise Department drew lots for the allotment of liquor stores across the State on Saturday. As many as 2,577 stores out of the total 2,621 were allotted, while the lucky draw for 43 stores was placed on hold in parts of the State, especially in Adilabad, due to a dearth of applications.
Excise officials launched an inquiry to ascertain why the number of applications received was fewer this time. The announcement for the allotment of the remaining wineshops will be made soon after the inquiry, they said. District Collectors oversaw the proceedings on Saturday to make the process more transparent.
The State government has provided reservations to Goud, SC and ST communities in the allotment and out of the total shops, 393 were allotted to Gouds, 262 to SCs and 131 to STs. As many as 67,849 applications were received for 2,620 shops across the State.
In the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, 3,022 applications were received for 179 liquor shops. The drawing of lots for shop no. 66 was reportedly stopped abruptly due to reasons unknown, in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, an applicant from Sarangapur in Jagtial district attempted suicide as the lucky draw for shop no. 043 was postponed due to lack of applications.
In erstwhile Adilabad district, the drawing of lots for 14 shops was postponed over fewer applications. The bidders of two liquor shops in Sirpur (U) and Lingapoor Agency mandals, where the process was halted, obstructed Kumrambheem-Asifabad District Collector Rahul Raj’s vehicle, demanding that the administration return the bid amounts. The police forcefully cleared them from the road to ensure safe passage for the Collector’s vehicle. Later, the bidders staged a protest in front of the Collector’s office.