Polls: Flow of Liquor from Chhattisgarh, Odisha to Telangana Through AP Likely

KAKINADA: As the election fever is catching up in Telangana state, the demand for liquor — that oils poll campaigns — is bound to shoot up across the state. For many, this is the start of a free booze season.

Apart from local inputs, liquor stocks from Chhattisgarh and Odisha are likely to find their way to the state through the merged mandals and border villages of Andhra Pradesh. Yetapaka, Chinturu and Chatti villages in AP are nearer to Chhattisgarh and Odisha as also Telangana state.

Yetapaka in AP and the famous temple town Bhadrachalam in Telangana state are at a close distance. There are many ways to enter Bhadrachalam. villages in Burgampadu mandal of Telangana have been merged into AP. Liquor is likely to be carried to Telangana state through these villages.

According to sources, the second-rung leaders of various political parties have begun giving orders to liquor syndicates of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. There is a possibility of liquor flowing to state from AP as the state hiked liquor prices 45 days back, bringing these prices much above the prices in AP. Political parties and leaders collect huge funds from liquor manufacturers, shops and dealers. The recent hike in the prices of liquor in Telagnana state is explained in this context.

Aswaraopeta and Sathupalli mandals in Telangana state are nearer to Jeelugumilli, Chintapudi Jangareddygudem and other mandals in Eluru district of AP. Due to the cheaper rates of liquor in AP, liquor is likely to flow to Telangana state from these border villages.

The liquor prices in AP are also likely to be increased in view of the onset of the Telagana state poll season.

The Jangareddygudem special enforcement CI Srinivas told Deccan Chronicle that checkposts have been strengthened in the border villages of Telangana and AP to check the flow of liquor from Telangana to AP. During 2022, some 110 cases were booked against those who carried liquor from Telangana to AP. But, this year, there were o below 60 cases so far, as the liquor prices in TS were increased.

For the past 45 days, after the hike in prices in Telangana state, only one case was booked.

 Chinturu SEB SI Vamsi Krishna said that AP and Telangana state liquor prices were almost equal and the flow of liquor from Telangana state to AP has reduced, of late. Last year, 23 cases were booked and this year only eight cases were booked on this count.

Speaking about the arrival of liquor from Odisha and Chattishagarh, he said TS and AP governments jointly strengthened the check posts. Three check-posts - Nellipaka, Cheduluru and Kalleru - have been set up to disallow inflow of liquor from other states.

According to the inhabitants of Yetapaka, Kunavaram, Chitnalapudi, Velerupadu and other villages, nobody can stop the free flow of liquor from other states to Telangana. “There are many ways to smuggle this from one state to another.” Corrupt cops often facilitate this flow. There is mushroom growth of arrack manufacturing units in many border villages,” they said.