Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday directed that the number of bars serving liquor be reduced with effect from January 1 as part of the government’s policy of implementing total prohibition in a phased manner.
Already, the number of liquor shops in the state had been brought down from 4,800 to 3,500 and all the shops have been taken over by the AP Beverages Corporation. The timings of the liquor shops were also reduced by two hours.
The officials of the excise department told the chief minister that there was a fall of 8.91 percent in the revenue from liquor.
The department has seen Rs 4043.72 crore income in the same period last year, and this year the revenue was Rs 3683.25 crore.
Although the officials mentioned the loss of license fee from alcohol shops, the Chief Minister is keen on alcohol ban and had taken a crucial decision for the same.
He directed the officials to reduce the number of bars and this should be implemented from January 1 and alcohol in bars should be provided only between 11 am to 10 pm.
He ordered to prepare a set of guidelines for the same and also asked to draft a procedure to collect the pending taxes.
The state revenue in other department has also come down. The Transport department has seen a 6.83 percent decline from Rs 2116.49 crore revenue till October in the last year to Rs 1971.91 crore till October this year.
Income from the Mining and Geological resources department has seen a 19 percent decline. The mines and geological resources department earned Rs. 1258 crore income till October last year and Rs 1023 crore till October this year.
Land and Revenue department has seen a 23.49 percent decline this year compared to last year. The Land and Revenue department earned Rs. 109.66 crore income till October last year and Rs 83.9 crore till October this year.
Forest Department has witnessed 78.03 percent decline in income. This department has earned Rs 131.69 crore income till October last year whereas, it has seen Rs 29.94 crore till October this year.
Only Stamps and Registrations Department has seen 3.26% revenue growth. The department has got Rs 2804.67 crore revenue till October in the last year and Rs 2895.96 crore till October this year.
