Visakhapatnam: Excise commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena said that AP government was all set to connect all the 4,000 odd liquor shops in the state to the excise department by implementing an integrated computer network to bring in transparency in liquor trade. This will ensure that the spirit is sold at the MRP (Maximum Retail Price) in all the licensed outlets from March 1.
Talking to newsmen here on Monday after the state-level conference of the prohibition and excise department, Mr Meena admitted that MRP violations in liquor trade rampant in Vizag and some cities and towns in the state. “So for our department has initiated action against seven liquor outlets in the state for charging above the MRP. Though many shops have been selling liquor more than MRP, due to staff crunch and few other reasons we are unable to conduct surprise checks on the shops,” he added.
Majority of the liquor outlets in the state installed computers and some were linked to the integrated network. As per the system, the computer network would be connected to the district and state head offices of the department. The top officials of the department will be able to access the information on flow of spirit from the AB Beverages Company Limited to liquor outlets and sale of spirit in each shop everyday. The network will also sell non-duty paid liquor in the some shops in north Andhra region as the non-duty paid spirit has hit the revenue of the state, he added.
“We have instructed the spirit shops owners to follow the new system from March 1 and the outlets have to give the receipts to the consumers and mention the prices of the liquor at the sales counter and the same should be uploaded on the network before delivery to the consumer. If the owners of the licensed outlets failed to follow the system, our department will initiate action against them,” he said. The prohibition and excise department's target to generate Rs 12,500 crore revenue through sale of spirit in this fiscal year and so far (up to January 31) the department has generated Rs 10,230 crore.
