Govt lifts curbs on toddy shops

HYDERABAD: In a bid to address concerns over reopening of toddy shops in the city, excise minister T Padma Goud said societies running them would be required to handle security issues arising from drunken brawls.
The Telangana government released an order on Thursday formally announcing the adoption of Andhra Pradesh Excise Rules 2007, pertaining to the issue of license for sale of toddy and tapping of palm trees.The amendment of the earlier order removes the restriction on setting up toddy shops only within 50 km of an area where palm trees are existing.
“The toddy tappers community has suffered for 10 years owing to the restrictions on the sale of toddy. The government’s move to allow reopening of toddy compounds is not to generate revenue but to help around 50,000 families belonging to this tapper community,” Goud said adding that toddy shops would start operating in the city by Dasara.
Accordingly, 103 toddy shops will be reopened within the city core area, while 15 would be reopened in the suburbs in the GHMC limits. The minister said societies existing before the ban, would operate toddy shops in areas where they earlier operated. It is also the responsibility of societies to provide security at the shop to ensure smooth conduct of sales and avoid trouble in the neighborhood. At present, no new licenses would be issued.
When asked what efforts would be taken to prevent sale of adulterated toddy, the minister said the government would earmark around 200 to 300 acres of land outside the city to grow palm trees for tapping. The government will allocate five acres of land to each society to grow trees. By growing trees, the supply of pure toddy would be ensured, Goud said. He also said the excise department officials would regularly collect toddy samples for testing and, anyone found erring, would face strict action.