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BJP raises doubts on AP liquor policy, suspects corruption
BJP leader Lanka Dinakar questioned the state government on excise revenues.
Amaravati: BJP leader Lanka Dinakar questioned the state government on excise revenues. He said that if the government is genuine in reducing liquor consumption in phased manner, then how could it expect the same revenue from excise for this year, when compared with the previous financial year, he asked in a press release on Wednesday.
The commitment of CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy that the ban on liquor was mentioned in YSRCP election Manifesto, he added. But, the reality is apparently different from the claims of government. "As per the Budget of 2018-19, Tax Revenue would be 65,535 Crores and out of which 11.20% share from State Excise Revenue, hence liquor Revenue would be Rs. 7340 Crores."
Here the point is, "Jagan came in to power in 2019 elections and Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy presented the first Budget. AP Govt intends to operate liquor shops so as to scale down the liquor consumption and telling to reduce shops to 3500 from approximately 4300. But ironically, as per the Budget figures for the Financial Year 2019-20 - State Excise Duty from the liquor estimated as Rs 8,200 Crores, at 11% from the total Budgeted Tax Revenue of Rs 75,438 Crores."
How can the Government estimates Rs 8,200 Crores for the year 2019-20 after scale downing the shops with an intention to reduce the consumption of the liquor, he questioned. He said that there was Revenue of Rs 7,340 Crores in the financial year 2018-19, when there were no restrictions on the liquor sale.
If the AP Government has commitment, It may be established de addiction centres around the State to educate the public on the ill effects of the liquor, prior to this decision instead of running the shops by the Government itself, he observed.
There is a possibility of centralized corruption in the present liquor Policy. It may encourage black market. It may cause serious problems as timings of shops are defined. Those who are in liquor mafia could collude with the present ruling party leaders so as to store the liquor bottles to dispose those at higher prices after closing the shops, he suspected.
