hyderabad sources stated that it was a New Year high for tipplers in telangana state as alcohol worth Rs 380 crore was sold in the last two days, with hyderabad and surrounding districts of ranga reddy and medchal recording highest liquor sale in the state. Earlier on december 30 and 31, liquor worth Rs 200 crore was sold as against Rs 60 crore on a daily basis, according to officials in excise department to a news agency.
Furthermore the state government had relaxed timings to keep liquor shops and bars for New Year, which stayed open till 1 am on december 31. Hence despite rise in liquor price by 10 per cent ahead of New Year, sale witnessed a jump. Apparently the hike, announced two weeks ago, is expected to rake in additional revenues of Rs.300-400 crore to take the overall revenue from liquor to Rs 20,000 crore during the current financial year.
Moreover liquor is one of the biggest sources of revenue for the state. The opposition parties have been critical of telangana rashtra samithi (TRS) government for unregulated sale of liquor, leading to increase in crimes against women. Perhaps following the brutal gang-rape and murder of a woman veterinarian near hyderabad in november, the opposition parties had demanded the government to check 'free flow' of liquor. D. K. Aruna, a woman leader of the bjp, had undertaken fast to demand prohibition in the state.
