HYDERABAD, June 11: The Andhra Pradesh government is netting rupees three crore daily through state excise and sales tax after the relaxation of prohibition. This is in addition to the Rs 250 crore already accrued by auctioning the retail outlets.

Disclosing this at a meeting held here today for reviewing the trends after relaxing the dry law, Excise Minister N Raghuram said that about rupees five to six crore worth liquor was being sold daily in the state. A comparison showed it was on par with the sales during May 1994, prior to the introduction of prohibition.

Referring to the seizure of illicitly transported liquor at Guntur, Mahboobnagar, Vijayawada and Medak recently, the minister said efforts would be taken to stop the inflow of such liquor. He said that a retail shop licence was cancelled for selling illicit liquor ar Racharla in Prakasam district.

The tender system for allotting retail shops had come up for review at a recent meeting and the Chief Minister had promised to plug the loopholes in the system, he said. There was no question of allowing cheap liquor and giving licences to clubs, he added.

As distilleries in the neighbouring states could not provide the required quantities, there was shortage of liquor in the state. However, supplies would increase as 21 distilleries and three breweries had started production from June 6, he said.

The government was considering issuing licences to eight more distilleries, the minister disclosed. So far 2,300 retail licences had been issued in the state and 800 more would be sanctioned soon.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.