Ensure closure of all belt shops, Excise officials told

- Minister Peethala Sujatha exhorts people to fight against the liquor evil as it is ruining the health and economy of poor families
- Says women are the worst victims as the husbands spend most of their earnings on liquor and return home empty handed

Eluru: Women and Child Welfare Minister Peethala Sujatha directed Excise officials to end the menace of belt shops (unauthorised liquor outlets) in the district by undertaking a drive to close them all immediately.

The Minister reviewed the functioning of Excise department at her camp office in Sanivarapupeta on Sunday. She said that it has come to her notice that the highest numbers of belt shops were being operated in Delta area and instructed the officials to close those shops by imposing a heavy penalty. She suggested to Excise officials to come back with an action plan to prevent opening of these shops again by unscrupulous elements.

The Minister said in 2014-15, 38 cases were registered against belt shop owners while in 2015-16, 59 cases were registered. She directed the officials to impose a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each belt shop owner. She pointed out that out of 458 liquor shops in the district, 104 shops are on national and state highways. She directed Excise officials to shift those shops immediately to other areas.

While expressing satisfaction over control of arrack brewing in the district, she said the officials should strive to make the district arrack-free. She exhorted the people to fight against the liquor evil as it was ruining the health and economy of poor families. She said women are the worst victims as the husbands spent most of their earnings on liquor and returned home empty handed. She expressed confidence that all belt shops can be closed if women join hands and fight against them.

Excise Deputy Commissioner Y Bhaskar Rao said 1,729 cases were registered in 2015 and 457 persons were arrested on charges of arrack brewing in the district. He said in the first quarter of 2016, 45 cases were registered against arrack brewers and 47 persons were taken into custody. He informed that 322 Excise officials have been donating travelling allowance amount for social activities in villages. He said Excise personnel are planning to distribute 16,000 notebooks, pens and 7,000 slates to students studying in primary schools in the district. The Minister appreciated Excise officials for taking up social activities in villages.

Excise superintendent Y Srinivas Chowdary, Excise assistant superintendents Suresh Babu and Nageswara Rao and Excise Circle Inspectors were present.