Excise law currently in force in Andhra Pradesh allows any person to keep and carry 3 bottles of liquors. Officials assess that this restriction is causing a loss of Rs. 600 crore to the State’s exchequer every month. Prices of branded liquor in Andhra Pradesh are 200 per cent higher than in neighbouring Telangana.
These factors led to widespread and large scale smuggling of liquor into the state from Telangana. Apart from organized smuggling networks, some people are taking full advantage of 3 bottles exception. Many people have turned liquor smuggling from Telangana and Tamil Nadu into a source of livelihood. Curbing of smuggling has proved beyond the capacity of police.
3 bottles-only of Andhra Pradesh
Taking advantage of the excise norm which allows storage or carrying of 3 bottles of liquor, many people are bringing branded bottles from neighbouring states. The High Court decided that it was no crime to have 3bottles after a person approached it after being arrested by police for possession of three bottles.
After the High Court’s verdict, police and excise personnel are unable to control those who are bringing 3 bottles. To curb the misuse of this provision, excise officials have reportedly suggested the government to amend Excise Act to make exemption limited to three bottles only of AP brands. The government is also said to have agreed to change the law. If it does so, boozers or smugglers will find it tough to bring three bottles from other states as it is considered a crime.
Liquor malls, floating casino in Vizag
To curb smuggling of liquor from Telangana into the state, the state government is said to be mulling setting up malls where all brands of liquor will be made available. It has become an impossible task for police and excise officials to check liquor smuggling as the state has a long border with TS. Though it can be curbed at check posts, smuggling is going on in remote border points as well as through Krishna river.
The government is also said to be planning to set up a floating casino off the Vizag shore in the name of tourism development. Liquor and gambling activities will be permitted in this casino. According to sources, officials proposed this floating casino since the state is losing a huge amount of revenue as many people are going to Goa at present for these facilities. Officials are claiming that apart from the state getting revenue, the tourism sector too will get a fillip with the casino.
Petrol, diesel next?
Fuel prices too are higher in the state compared with neighbours. Petrol bunks on the other side of the state border are highlighting this huge price gap by setting up signboards to attract customers from AP. A bunk in Karnataka put up signs saying that petrol is Rs. 7 lesser and diesel Rs. 5 lesser in their bunk than in AP. Because of this difference, apart from heavy vehicles that travel on national highways, people in border areas are also filling their tanks in neighbouring states.
Like in the case of liquor, people are assuming that the government may impose curbs on this cross-border fuel purchases too in order to prevent loss of revenue.
