Cases booked against 1,472 belt shops in WG dist

Akiveedu: Prohibition and Excise department Deputy Commissioner YV Bhaskar Rao has warned liquor shop owners to face cancellation of their license, if they indulge in adulteration of liquor and running of belt shops.

He visited excise circle office as part of annual inspection here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, he informed that they had controlled country liquor sales by 99 per cent in the district. However, they had to concentrate on Devarapalli, Buttayigudem and other areas to stop the sales.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the department had cracked whip on belt shops and registered cases against 1,472 belt shops in the district so far. They also seized 350 litres of liquor apart from seizure of 16 kg ganja and an auto transporting it.

Bhaskar Rao informed that all sales and purchases had been made online and they had set up CC cameras in shops to verify the sales. He warned cancellation of license, if the liquor shops seen open and sales were noticed on Independence Day.

Bhimavaram excise superintendent Dr K Srinivas, Akiveedu Circle Inspector R Jayaram Satish, Excise Inspector Durga Prasad and others were present.