In what is being described as
major policy flip-flop, there are rumours doing rounds that the Telangana
Rashtra Samithi government might drop its over hyped proposal for introducing
affordable liquor, touted as the `cure' for the menace of illicitly distilled
(ID) liquor.
As part
of the new excise policy expected to be in place by October 1,2015 they were
supposed to be sold at Rs 15 per 90 ml bottle. Moves like introduction of
micro-breweries for concocting fresh beer and wine cafes, are seen as progressive,
the proposal for introducing cheap liquor had already earned public wrath.
K Chandrasekhar Rao have reportedly conveyed to national media
Sources
considered close to Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao have
reportedly conveyed to national media scribes that government is seriously
planning for dropping the idea. The intention was to curb the ID liquor problem
for which the government was also ready to leave good revenues resulting from
affordable liquor.
The signal, however, seems to have been going wrong and the chief minister also asked officials to maintain much more due diligence regarding the excise policy. It may not be a surprise if any announcement on this affordable liquor would be now put on the back burner. Even Home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy had recently said the government is not at all adamant and will be accommodating the popular opinion on the issue.