Digital payments mandatory in liquor sales, says CM

Vijayawada:Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has said digital payments are mandatory in the sale of liquor and officials should ensure this rule is strictly implemented.

Sale of non-duty paid liquor can be controlled through digital payments, the chief minister said at the district collectors’ conference on Thursday.

Reaffirming that the main objective of the state government is creation of 20 lakh jobs, the chief minister asked officials to mainly focus on the total investments made in their districts and “how many jobs are being created through these.”

By the time of the next collectors’ conference, all of them should come with clear details on this matter, he said.

The chief minister criticised the previous government for not allowing digital payments in liquor and said, that was the first time such large-scale irregularities were committed in liquor sales.

He said a CID inquiry was under way into the allegations related to the liquor sector. “The Bureau of Indian Standards certification provision is also being fully implemented in the matter of liquor sales.”

The CM said, “There is anarchy against women due to massive use of ganja, drugs and cell phones by anti-social elements. Collectors and SPs must take control of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres by use of technically and scientifically advanced methods.”

Naidu said sand should not be allowed to go to neighbouring states. Officials must install CCTV cameras to restrain illegal transportation of sand.

He said a public opinion poll should be conducted through IVRS on the sand distribution in the state. No MLA is allowed to indulge and the collectors will have complete control over the sand, he said.

"Google and Drone Corporation can together work on the cannabis crop identification and destruction. A committee should be set up at the state-level with RTGS, the Drone Corporation, EAGLE, and the prison department to deal with the drug menace," he said.

The chief minister said an excise officer should also be included in the teams at the district level.

EAGLE IG, Ake Ravi Krishna, said a virtual conference was held with Odisha SPs on the transportation of marijuana. Anti-drug committees should be formed in schools and colleges with ten students and one teacher in each panel. “We are monitoring the marijuana cases closely and working fully with the district SPs to eradicate drugs.”

The chief minister said the crime rate has decreased in the state in the past six months. Public trust in policing has increased. Smart policing should be done by using cutting-edge technologies like CCTVs, drones, Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems and AI.

“Drones should be used to monitor places where CCTV cameras do not have coverage. Special attention should be paid to various accident hotspots in the state and precautions should be taken,” he said.

DGP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao has said so far, 15,587 cameras have been installed in crime hotspots, religious places and public places in the state. Based on these, 1,330 cases have been identified.

He said 1,238 rowdy sheets, 215 drug suspect sheets were registered and 858 crime hotspots identified. Murders and attacks in the state decreased by 7.78 per cent in six months and by 8.47 per cent this year.

The DGP said 572 cases were registered so far against those who are personally targeting and damaging reputations through social media. Some 210 persons were arrested and 345 handlers identified.

Crimes against women in the state have decreased by 10.76 per cent in six months. Some 4,988 missing persons cases have been cracked and 1,350 young women rescued.

The DGP said 14,787 kg of cannabis was seized so far, while 627 state and interstate cannabis smugglers were arrested. Crimes against SCs and STs in the state have decreased by 7.96 per cent and the road safety campaign has helped to reduce accidents on the roads by 4.5 per cent, he added.

Infograph:

• 15,587 cameras have been installed in crime hotspots, religious places and public places in the state
• 1,330 cases identified. 1,238 rowdy sheeters, 215 drug suspects listed and 858 crime hotspots identified
• Murders and attacks in state decreased by 7.78 per cent in six months and by 8.47 per cent in a year
• 572 cases registered so far against those who are personally targeting and damaging reputations through social media, 210 were arrested and 345 handlers identified
• Crimes against women in AP have decreased by 10.76 per cent in six months; 4,988 missing persons' cases have been cracked; 1,350 young women rescued
• 14,787kg of cannabis seized so far, 627 state and interstate cannabis smugglers arrested
• Crimes against SCs and STs in the state decreased by 7.96 per cent; road safety campaigns helped to reduce accidents on the roads by 4.5 per cent.