BELAGAVI
Reeling under heavy losses due to cheap liquor that is smuggled from Goa and Andhra Pradesh, the Karnataka government has initiated stringent measures to curb the inflow of illicit liquor trade.
The state excise department has also initiated measures to achieve a whopping target of Rs 12,500 crore for the current financial year.
Speaking to mediapersons during his North Karnataka visit, Karnataka Minister for Excise Manohar Tashildar expressed concern over rising illicit liquor trade between Karnataka and its neighbouring states of Goa and Andhra Pradesh.
“Due to the availability of cheap liquor from these states, liquor sales in Karnataka, especially in the districts bordering these states, are dipping, due to which stringent measures will be initiated to curb this thriving trade,” the Minister emphasised.
“Special squads will be formed in the districts bordering these two states to check the illicit liquor trade. Once this liquor trade is curbed, it will be easy for the state excise department to achieve its target of Rs 12,500 crore that has been set for the current financial year,” Tashildar told media persons.
According to sources, the illicit liquor trade between Belagavi and Goa continues to thrive despite measures by authorities, as the liquor mafia has allegedly colluded with some officials in the illicit liquor trade.
As liquor sold in Goa is available at less than half the price in Karnataka, Goan liquor is in great demand in the border districts of Karnataka.
According to sources, the complacency reportedly observed by the excise staff posted at Karnataka-Goa border check posts is one of the reasons for this thriving trade.
Sources said previous such attempts by authorities in Karnataka to clamp down on the illicit liquor trade have had limited success, as the illicit liquor trade between Karnataka and Goa continues to thrive since a large number of families in Karnataka are reportedly making a living from this trade.
