Excise officials inaction exposed
Even though state government is losing revenue due to mushrooming of belt shops which sell illicit liquor in several villages under Tandur limits, officials of Excise Department have turned a blind eye, allege women organisations. They claim that operators of belt shops who are transporting cheap liquor from neighbouring Karnataka state
Tandur (Ranga Reddy): Even though state government is losing revenue due to mushrooming of belt shops which sell illicit liquor in several villages under Tandur limits, officials of Excise Department have turned a blind eye, allege women organisations. They claim that operators of belt shops who are transporting cheap liquor from neighbouring Karnataka state into these villages in trucks and auto-rickshaws during nights are getting away with it, due to few corrupt officials.
Belt shops have sprung up in villages as there are only eight government-approved liquor shops in Tandur town and six outlets in Peddemul, Basheerabad, Yalkal and Karankot mandals. After consuming cheap liquor bought from belt shops, villagers start quarrelling with family members. Leaders of women’s organisations allege that disputes have increased alarmingly in villages as officials of the Excise Department have failed to curb sale of illicit liquor through belt shops.
They allege that few Excise officials are receiving bribes from operators and given them a free hand. To show that they are taking action against belt shops, officials file cases against operators, who are not paying bribes and not because they are found selling illicit liquor.
But Excise officials dismiss these allegations as baseless and claim that they haven’t received any complaints, against belt shop who sell illegal stuff. “We haven’t received any complaints till date, but if we receive complaints on any belt shop who are selling illicit liquor, we will certainly take action” says K Bharatbhushan, Circle Inspector, Tandur Excise Division told The Hans India.
