During the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly election campaign, Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy assured people that he would completely prohibit liquor sales in the state
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh government, on Wednesday (August 28), reportedly said it would allocate Rs 500 crore for installing de-addiction centres and would also implement the prohibition of liquor in the state.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also directed higher officials to display the ill-effects of consuming liquor in school students' textbooks.
The officials also reportedly said that the liquor consumption has drastically dropped after the government cracked the whip on illegal outlets as the first step towards imposition of total prohibition in the state.
It is also said that Jagan was informed in a review meeting where the sale of liquor showed a decrease of 12 lakh cases till July compared to the previous year's figures.
In 2018-19, Andhra Pradesh registered the sale of overall 125 lakh cases of liquor.
In the second phase to implement prohibition, Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) would take over the liquor shops in a phased manner.
Also read: Andhra Pradesh government corporation to run 3,500 liquor stores
According to reports, as many as 503 liquor shops would be opened initially as a pilot project from September 1.
Jagan also directed the enforcement and police departments to ensure that there is no smuggling of liquor in the state.
He also asked the officials to install women police in village secretariats for effective implementation of prohibition as the chief minister had promised his people, during the election campaign, that he would prohibit liquor in the state.
After coming to power, Jagan announced that prohibition would be implemented in a phased manner.
In July, the state Assembly passed a bill to provide for the government to take over the liquor business.
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