Liquor sales touch Rs.112 crore in erstwhile Adilabad during panchayat polls

Liquor sales in the erstwhile Adilabad district saw a sharp rise during the recent Gram Panchayat elections, touching Rs.112.74 crore in a fortnight. Officials attributed the increase to polling activity across 1,020 villages in four districts

Adilabad: The Excise and Prohibition department in the erstwhile Adilabad district recorded a sharp spurt in liquor sales, coinciding with the recently held three-phase Gram Panchayat elections.

Excise and Prohibition officials said the region, comprising four districts, registered liquor sales worth Rs.112.74 crore between December 5 and 19, marking an increase of about 40 percent over normal sales for a fortnight. Officials attributed the surge to polling in 1,020 villages conducted between December 11 and 17.

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According to officials, Mancherial district topped the chart with liquor sales valued at Rs.39.90 crore during the period, while Kumram Bheem Asifabad district remained at the bottom with sales worth Rs.16.96 crore. Nirmal district recorded liquor sales worth Rs.32.80 crore, while Adilabad district accounted for sales valued at Rs.23.08 crore.

Mancherial district registered sales of 40,507 cases of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and 31,046 cases of beer during the two-week period. Nirmal district recorded sales of 33,595 cases of liquor and 27,082 cases of beer. Adilabad district witnessed sales of 31,535 cases of liquor and 7,405 cases of beer, while Kumram Bheem Asifabad district recorded sales of 21,442 cases of liquor and 8,874 cases of beer.

Rural areas abuzz with local body electioneering also saw the mushrooming of belt shops or unauthorised liquor outlets. These belt shops, where liquor is sold openly at prices higher than the maximum retail price, fleece consumers by charging at least 20 percent more than the MRP. Tipplers often rely on these outlets instead of travelling to authorised wine shops operating in towns and mandal centres.

Candidates reportedly attempted to appease voters by offering liquor. Those in the fray are said to have hosted parties for electors by purchasing liquor from belt shops, believing that alcohol acts as an effective influencer and improves a contestant’s prospects in the polls.

Sales of liquor in erstwhile Adilabad from December 5 to 19

Mancherial: 73 shops and 16 bars sold 40,507 IMFL cases and 31,046 beer cases, generating Rs.39.90 crore in sales.

Nirmal: 47 shops and eight bars sold 33,595 IMFL cases and 27,082 beer cases, with sales valued at Rs.32.80 crore.

Adilabad: 40 shops and 11 bars sold 31,535 IMFL cases and 7,405 beer cases, accounting for Rs.23.08 crore in sales.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: 32 shops and three bars sold 21,442 IMFL cases and 8,874 beer cases, recording sales of Rs.16.96 crore.