APCC ridicules TDP agitation on liquor belt shops

Hyderabad, Aug 21 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today ridiculed the Opposition Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) call for an agitation, demanding closure of all liquor belt shops in the State.

Addressing a press conference here, party spokesperson N Tulasi Reddy said the TDP had brought in the culture of belt shops during its regime. The Congress Government was committed to the closure of all belt shops and it would introduce prohibition in the State in a phased manner as promised in the party's election manifesto.

He said the State Government had started awareness campaigns among the people on the evils of liquor consumption. The Government had constituted a committee for liquor eradication and earmarked Rs ten crore in the State budget for the Committee to organise campaigns.

Mr Reddy said the Government had raided and closed down 4,500 belt shops last year and booked cases against them. The Government had reduced retail liquor shops from 7,118 during the previous TDP regime to 6,517 in 2006-07.

He said the annual increase in liquor consumption in the State was 9.2 per cent during the TDP rule, while it was just 7.5 per cent during the Congress regime. The Government had also reduced liquor bars during the last three years. At present, 1,320 bars existed in the State as against 1,418 bars during the TDP rule in 2003-04. The excise revenue had come down to 13.1 per cent as against 13.9 per cent in 2003-04, he added.

UNI