Khammam: The excise revenue from Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts was Rs 92 crore more than what was fetched during the previous year. This is due to the presence belt shops and increasing prices of liquor.
The excise revenue for the 2021-22 financial year was Rs 2169 crore against Rs 2077 crore in 2020-21.
The belt shops, numbering 200 and located at the borders of Andhra Pradesh, did good sales and fetched huge money to the Telangana government. The Andhra Pradesh government had not made available all brands in their liquor shops. At the same time, the AP government reduced its liquor prices in January, 2022, keeping in view the lesser prices in Telangana.
With this, the boozers turned to the belt shops in 18 border mandals like Nelakondalli, Mudigonda, Chintakani, Bonakal, Kallur, Madhira, Errupalem, Tallada, Penuballi, Vemsoor, Dammapet, Aswaraopet, Chandrugonda, Burgumpahad, Mulakalapalli, Bhadrachalam, Dummugudem and Annapureddypalli in the two districts.
Liquor was made available in every street even in remote villages due to the belt shops, which formed into an income generation unit in rural areas. About 12.21 lakh beer cases and 31.91 lakh Indian Made Liquor cases were sold in 2021-22.
Liquor traders and belt shop organisers made Rs 500 crore profit with the sales of liquor this financial year. Each brand was sold at more than the MRP in belt shops. The liquor shop owner will get 15 to 30 per cent profit in the liquor business. Srinivasa Rao, a liquor trader said, “We will get more profit if the liquor sales increased.”
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