Is Telangana government thinking on the lines of selling cheap liquor in Telangana through its own shops? We can consider it as YES with the comments made by Excise Minister, T.Padma Rao. Speaking in Assembly lobbies, Padma Rao defended government’s decision of allowing toddy shops in Hyderabad and ascertained that there is illicit toddy here and there are enough palm trees to meet toddy demand here.
Padma Rao said that Toddy is healthy and there is pressure on government to sell cheap liquor (Sarayi in Telugu) through government owned shops. “We are hesitating given the criticism on our government for selling toddy. But there is a demand from the people regarding sale of Sarayi through government owned shops.
Toddy Shops (Kallu Compounds) were banned in 2005 by the then Congress government following complaints against the location of toddy shops in residential areas and the nuisance created by drunken men. TRS government has allowed 108 Toddy shops so far.
