Prohibition and Excise Minister T Padma Rao informed the Telangana State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that the State Government is contemplating to reopen Toddy sale depots in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Replying to a question raised by Congress MLAs M Sudheer Reddy and DK Aruna during Question Hour on Thursday, the minister denied information that several toddy shops were being run illegally selling illicit and adulterated toddy in the State, causing the loss of lives of several people.
“As per Rule 16 & 27 of the AP Toddy Rules, 2007, the licensee shall sell unadulterated Toddy. In order to check adulteration in Toddy, all the field officers are provided with kit for detecting Chloral Hydrate/ Diazepam by way of conducting of spot test. Chemical examiner of Regional Excise Laboratory has been provided with equipment to detect Alprozolam in the Toddy,” the minister said. Further, he said inspections would be conducted at regular intervals and cases of adulteration would be detected and licenses would be suspended/cancelled as per Section 31 of AP Excise Act. (INN)