Date:09/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/09/stories/2007030910760400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

YSR offers to crack down on belt shops

Special Correspondent

`Dry law must be implemented in phases after educating the public sufficiently'

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy said here on Thursday that his Government had reduced the number of liquor shops in the State this year and would continue to do so every year for the next three years as a welfare measure.

Intervening during a reply by Rural Development Minister D. Srinivas to a debate on `pavala vaddi' loans to DWCRA groups in the Assembly, the Chief Minister also offered to conduct raids on "belt shops" if any legislator provided information about their existence anywhere in the State.

Earlier, G. Kishen Reddy (BJP) alleged that liquor sales had gone up in the State by 33 per cent and wanted to know as to how the Government could empower women when liquor was flowing in streams everywhere. He recalled a policy decision taken by Indira Gandhi as Primer Minister for gradual introduction of prohibition at least in Congress-ruled States to remove distress among the women.

`A social evil'

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy said liquor consumption was a social evil. His Government held no second opinion as far as the need for dry law was concerned but it must be implemented in phases after educating the public.

He said if the Government was interested in enhancing revenue by liquor sales as alleged, it would have increased the number of the shops but it did not.