Telangana Excise Department is on the vigil to prevent sale and consumption of illicitly distilled liquor during the Medaram jatara in Warangal district which draws lakhs of devotees.

After the policy decision of the Government to ban ‘gudumba’ and promote liquor brewed in distilleries permitted by the government and through the Telangana State Beverages Corporation Ltd., the sale of ordinary liquor increased by 100 per cent as those hitherto consuming the ‘gudumba’ apparently shifted to the safer variety.

But department sources said that the Medaram congregation would be the time to be vigilant to prevent brewing and sale of illicitly distilled liquor. Apart from the loss of revenue to the government, the concern is more about ill effects of the illicit liquour.

The Beverages Corporation proactively set up new additional depots at Tadvai and Reddygudem in Warangal so that permit holders who should be only tribals could take stocks and sell them to cater to those lakhs of people coming for Medaram Jatara from February 14 to 20.The actual dates of jatara are from February 17 to 20. “We already sent the stocks to the new depots and they will be wound up after February 20,” official sources said.