The Liquor Control Movement Committee has appealed to the State government to prepare new Excise policy in such a way that it is not revenue to the State exchequer.
Committee chairman former chief justice of Allahabad High Court Ambati Laxmana Rao and other leaders met incharge Minister for Excise K. Parthasarathi and submitted a memorandum seeking new excise policy.
Justice Laxmana Rao urged the State government to remove belt shops and run liquor vends by itself in the municipal and corporation areas and run wine shops at mandal level in public-private partnership. He also urged the government to encourage low alcohol brands of liquor to protect people’s health and declare one dry day in a week. The government should not give permission for opening wine shops near one kilometer from highways and roads.
Former judge of High Court D. Reddapa Reddy urged the government to prepare the Excise policy to ensure stern action against those brewing spurious liquor. He urged the government to introduce ill-effects of liquor consumption in the school syllabus and launch campaigning against liquor. He also urged the government to set up de-addiction centers in the hospitals and provide treatment free of cost to the patients.
Jana Chaityana Vedika state president V. Laxmana Reddy said that Minister Parthasarathi has assured to discuss the demands in the Ministers Sub-committee meeting.
Former Chief Secretary Kaki Madhava Rao, APSA director Srinivas Reddy, Forum for Good Governance secretary M. Padmanabha Reddy, Senior Citizens Association State president Dr Rao Chelikani were among the delegation that met the Minister. (NSS)