Hyderabad: Telangana’s excise revenue is expected to reach a record Rs 10,500 crore this year, an increase of Rs 1000 crore over the previous year.
“We expect excise revenue in Telangana to go up to Rs 10,500 crore during 2014-15, compared to Rs 9,500 crore during 2013-2014, an increase of Rs 1,000 crore,” Ahmad Nadeem, Excise Commissioner said.
The new government, led by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will have to take a decision before June 30 (when the excise year ends) on whether to continue with the existing excise policy or formulate a new one, and also about increasing rentals of liquor shops and reviving toddy shops in Hyderabad and other places.
The Chief Minister discussed excise issues with the excise minister, T. Padma Rao, the excise commissioner, Mr Nadeem, and other senior officials, before leaving for New Delhi.
Mr Rao will hold another meeting on his return from the capital to finalise the excise policy of the new government.
At present there are 2,220 wine shops in Telangana. About 292 shops could not be opened as there were no takers.
Wine dealers represented to the excise minister Mr Padma Rao, that rentals for the wine shops should not be increased since the returns did not warrant it and their businesses would collapse.
Mr Padma Rao also received representations from toddy tappers who want toddy shops in Hyderabad and other places across Telangana to be revived.
This was one of the TRS’s electoral promises. The toddy trade provides employment to about one lakh people.
“Normally, toddy produced in Telangana stays fresh when compared to the shorter shelf life of toddy from the coastal region,” a toddy tapper representative said.
