Warangal: The Excise Department is leaving no stone unturned to stop the gudumba (local arrack) menace in the state. Aadhaar card is the latest weapon that the department unleashed to keep a tab on illicit liquor breweries. Those wanting to buy jaggery must produce the photocopy of their Aadhaar card. Be it for retail sale or for domestic use, jaggery is not a commodity one can purchase in large quantities.
In June and July, the Excise Department has completely stalled the sale of jaggery, as it was found that the brewers were using white jaggery, which is usually used for domestic purposes, for preparing gudumba. This had serious effect on the jaggery business. Jaggery merchants appealed to the Excise Department and the district administration to lift the ban.
Following this, the Excise Department decided to allow the sale of jaggery under specified conditions. The officials told the traders to ask the customers to produce their Aadhaar card to curb the illegal usage.
Jaggery Merchants Association president Madarapu Sadashivudu said they have limited the jaggery quantity to 20 kg for retailers and a maximum of 40 kg, in case the domestic demand is higher. However, those holding GST licence are allowed to purchase 80 kg.
“Chikki (sweet made with jaggery and groundnuts) makers and societies who require more quantity of jaggery will have to submit an application to the urban excise police station stating their requirement and the purpose of purchase. They can purchase jaggery after receiving the permission from the department,” Mr Sadashivudu said.
Excise deputy commissioner Suresh Rathod said, “We are able to prevent sale of black jaggery used in production of gudumba. But the brewers were using white jaggery also for brewing. As a result, the sale of white jaggery had to be banned.”
“We are taking all measures to prevent misuse of jaggery even at retail-level.
The owners of retail shops have to collect the details of the buyer. All jaggery dealers will have to file a statement regarding the sales every 15 days to the department,” Mr Rathod said.
