Hyderabad: Excise Minister T. Padma Rao on Monday said that the Telangana Government would take steps to strengthen the functioning of Prohibition & Excise Department in the State.
Speaking after releasing the diary of Excise Department’s Gazetted Officers Association in the State Secretariat here, the minister said efforts were on to provide funds, vehicles and other facilities to the Excise Stations on par with police department. Further, he said that a decision on promotion of staff would be taken after the budget session. He said departmental promotions were stopped following pending of investigation of liquor scam during the previous regime of Kiran Kumar Reddy. However, he said that issue would be resolved in consultation with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. He said that pensions of retired staff were also kept in abeyance due to pending probe. This too would be resolved soon, he said.
The minister also directed the officials to prepare a complete list of people who were involved in manufacturing and sale of spurious and adulterated liquor. He said steps would be taken for their rehabilitation to ensure that they do not resort to illegal means again. He said a special package could be offered in next budget offering alternate means of livelihood to those who were associated with the spurious liquor business.
TRS MLA Srinivas Goud and other Association leaders were also present. (INN)