Excise revenue goes for a toss

HYDERABAD: It is a 'hangover' which the state government will not be able to come out of in the near future. Ever since the Sakala Janula Samme engulfed the Telangana region including Hyderabad, the excise revenue has touched an all-time low with the state government incurring losses to the tune of `300 crore in the last one month.What more, liquor sales have gone down by 15 per cent in Telangana region while the same has increased by 15 per cent in Andhra region.According to official sources, the estimated liquor sales in the state per month stand at Rs 1,500 crore.Of this, Telangana region including twin cities records a sale of Rs 900 crore.The excise department gets 80 per cent revenue though VAT, excise tax and margins."Liquor sales have decreased by 15 per cent in the region since the Sakala Janula Samme started last month," an official of the AP Distilleries disclosed. The breweries and distilleries employees have been participating in the strike that led to liquor shortage in Telangana region including twin cities. Since the employees of as many as 15 distilleries and 5 breweries have been participating in the strike, liquor production has stopped.According to some liquor shop owners in Kukatpally, SR Nagar, Miyapur and Ameerpet, only a few brands, which were not known to move fast earlier were available now.N Venkateswara Rao, owner of a wine shop in Kukatpally said the department has stopped sending stocks. "The existing stocks were getting over. I am now wondering how to pay rent and salaries to my staff," he said.Some liquor businessmen from Andhra, who own wine shops in Hyderabad were said to be getting huge stocks from Vijayawada and Guntur."The liquor stocks from Vijayawada and Guntur are reaching Hyderabad by private buses every day," a source said.According to an excise official, the department would take a decision about allowing Telangana liquor traders to get liquor from Andhra and Rayalaseema."This arrangement is under active consideration and the government is likely to make an announcement by Wednesday," he said.AP Wine Dealers Association president D Venkateswara Rao said lack of sufficient stocks in wine shops and bars has become a matter of serious concern.He also said those who are having muscle and money power were importing liquor from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.