K Chandrasekhar Rao okays toddy sale in Hyderabad

Toddy shops were banned in 2004 by the YSR government

Update: 2014-06-28 04:09 GMT
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (Photo: DC archives)

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has given the green signal for the sale of toddy and reopening of the toddy shops in Hyderabad (old MCH limits), which had been banned in 2004 by the YSR government.

The prohibition and excise department has been asked to prepare modalities for formation of toddy tappers’ societies and allotment of shops as was done in the past in the Twin Cities, which may take a month or two.

Toddy, a mild alcoholic beverage made from the sap of the palm tree, was widely sold in Hyderabad at several “toddy compounds” before it was banned.

The ban had forced scores of Goud families, who are traditional toddy tappers and ran toddy shops, to shift to other livelihoods.

The TRS and other political parties had promised to reopen toddy shops in the Twin Cities if voted to power during the just-concluded general elections since it provided livelihood to thousands of people in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts where toddy was extracted and sold in Hyderabad city.

“The government will soon lift the ban on sale of toddy and allow notified toddy shops in Hyderabad. The Chief Minister is favorably inclined to the sale of toddy in Hyderabad. Toddy is nothing but one more addition to the existing liquors, yet much safer since it’s a natural drink,” excise minister T. Padma Rao, told this newspaper on Friday.

He added, “The ban on toddy was more a political decision than anything else. YSR was upset with the toddy tappers’ association for cancelling a public meeting at the last minute in the city on the advice of then CM, Mr Chandrababu Naidu. After coming to power, YSR banned the sale of toddy in Hyderabad. That’s the real story behind the ban.”

There were 103 notified toddy shops or compounds in Hyderabad, but after the ban, multistoried buildings, commercial establishments and houses have come up in their place at many locations.

Referring to objections from some quarters, the minister said, “There is a misconception regarding how toddy is sold in Hyderabad when there are no trees. Since ages Hyderabad used to get toddy from the neighbouring districts. There are lakhs of trees in neighbouring districts and a large number still exists.”

Stating that about 75,000 families depended on toddy extraction and sale across Telangana, he said that the government expected a turnover of Rs 200 crore through toddy in Hyderabad. The drink most likely will be permitted to be sold through Tappers Cooperative Societies and Tree for Tapper Scheme.

“It will neither add huge revenues to the excise department nor will it cause losses. But it will certainly provide livelihood to many,” he said.

The Goud community had adopted alcoholic beverage production and sale as their trade, which is believed to be a gift from God.

In fact, Telugu Desam founder N.T. Rama Rao had promoted the sale of “Neera” as a health drink, which after fermentation due to the sun’s rays, turns into toddy.

Asked about likely nuisance due to reopening of toddy shops and objections by some sections including women, the minister said the government would regulate the same on the lines of liquor shops, permit rooms and bars and restaurants.

“I bet toddy is the safest drink. Chances of adulteration is also very less. A tree provides two/three bottles per day. It provides livelihood to thousands. We will regulate it,” he asserted.

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