Steps taken to check illegal transport of liquor: Deputy CM K Narayana Swamy

Guntur: Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Excise K Narayana Swamy said that the State government has taken all necessary steps to check illegal transportation of liquor through the state borders.

He said, they have set up closed circuit cameras at state borders to check illegal transport of liquor and stepped up vigilance at all state borders. He inaugurated Madhya Viomachana Prachara Committee State office at Ramannapet here on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the government has taken all steps to highlight the ill-effects of liquor consumption among people and will conduct awareness meetings in colleges very soon.

He said liquor consumption was one of the main reason for increase of rape cases. He also said Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was committed to implement total prohibition in a phased manner in the state as part of keeping his election promise.

He recalled that over 20 per cent of the liquor shops were reduced in the state this year. He remembered that though former chief minister N T Rama Rao implemented total prohibition, former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu diluted it.

He said the YSRCP government had shut 43,800 liquor shops across the state as soon as it came to power. Madhya Vimochana Prachara Committee State Chairman V Lakhamana Reddy, District Collector I Samuel Anand Kumar and GMC Commissioner Challa Anuradha were also present.