Toddy sellers miffed in Telangana

 

“As it is, we are not doing great business in the city right now. Many toddy outlets that were opened in the twin cities are incurring huge losses. If cheap liquor is also allowed, we will have to shut shop,” said Madhu Goud, a toddy retailer in West Maredpally. 

 

Toddy shops sell bottled toddy in a range of Rs 25 to Rs 30 in the city. If a person consumes three bottles, then he will be getting the much desired ‘high’, but cheap liquor available at a rate of Rs 15 and Rs 30 will certainly make our business flat,” he added.

 

According to the Bandi Narsa Goud, working president of Telangana  Gowda Sangham, who thrive on the toddy business, the introduction of  cheap liquor in all towns and villiges will increase the consumption as well as tipplers which will ultimately also lead to closure of all toddy shops.

 

“There is a population of about 40 lakh people in the Gowda community in the state. More than half of them are dependent on the toddy business which is the main  profession of the community. Toddy is harmless and not available  abundantly. However, cheap liquor is going to be available everywhere. In such a  case who will consume toddy at a higher price than cheap liquor?  This is an alarming trend and we are going to take up mass agitations  against the move,” Mr Narsa Goud told this newspaper.

 

Apart from the leaders of the community, there are murmurs within the  ruling TRS too. There are four leaders in TRS from the community  including the excise minister T. Padma Rao Goud, legislative council chairman K. Swamy Gowd, Bhongir MP Dr Bura Narasaiah Goud and Mahbubnagar MLA K. Srinivasa Goud. 

 

“I am holding a constitutional post. That is why I cannot make any critical statement against the government, I have told the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao about possible hardships faced by the Gowda community in running their traditional toddy business within and outside Hyderabad city, I really don’t understand why the government is implementing this cheap liquor.

 

Firstly it will fetch less revenue because it is going to  reduce the taxes. Secondly the drinking habit will increase by manyfold due to affordability. Thirdly the Gowda community will suffer badly. The CM who was responsible for re-opening of outlets in Hyderabad should think twice before going for cheap liquor,” Mr Swamy Goud said. 

 

The Mahbubnagar MLA Srinivasa Goud also echoed the sentiment and said, “The government should keep the interests of Gowda community in mind before actually introducing the cheap liquor.”