Liquor brewers to get loans if they quit illegal activity

Rajahmundry: Sub-Collector Vijayakrishnan called upon officials of all departments to put in joint efforts to eliminate illicit liquor.

She conducted a meeting with the revenue, excise and police authorities at her office here on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, Vijayakkrishnan said that village level officials, sarpanchs and people’s representatives should identify the brewing units to take action.

She maintained that the police department should extend support whenever revenue and excise departments conduct raids. She suggested for awareness programmes in villages on arrack.

Stating that if arrack producers continue with their work, they would be punished, she mentioned that loans would be given for alternative activity for them if they quit brewing. Loans would be sanctioned to women who are in Self-Help Groups through Mudra Yojana and cases would be filed against arrack brewers and on owners of the sites.

Speaking on the occasion, Excise Superintendent N Surjeeth Singh said that training would be given to enhance professional expertise if arrack brewers start small scale industries and businesses. He further said that his department was seeking information from forest field officers to prevent illicit liquor in the agency area.

He stressed the need to prevent brewing of illicit liquor in agency area in order to save valuable forest land. He sought support from fisheries department to conduct raids in islands in Godavari where illicit arrack brewing is very high.