India. Computer network to connect all liquor shops in Andhra Pradesh

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To bring transparency in the liquor trade and to curb the retail outlets from selling liquor over and above MRP (Maximum retail price), the Prohibition and Excise Department is mulling to integrate all the 4,000 odd liquor shops through a dedicated computer network.

Work is afoot and the network will be operational from March 1, said Excise Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena, here in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

Talking to the media after the State level conference of the Department, Mr. Mukesh Kumar Meena admitted that MRP violation in liquor trade was rampant in Visakhapatnam and some other cities and towns in the State. Out of the 4,000 odd shops, only seven were found charging above the MRP, due to lack of surprise checks by the department, he admitted.

Giving details on the computer network, he said that shops will be linked up and the network will be connected to the district and State head offices of the department and officials will be able to monitor the flow of stock from the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited to the retail outlets and as well as sales of each shop, on a daily basis.

The network will also check the sale of non-duty paid liquor sales. He admitted that non-duty paid liquor sales has impacted the revenue of the State, especially in North Andhra region.

Mr. Mukesh Kumar Meena also said that the shop owners have been instructed to issue receipts for sales at the counter and the same should be uploaded on the network.

The department targets to generate about Rs. 12,500 crore of revenue through sale of liquor in this fiscal and so far till January 31, the sale achieved was about Rs. 10,230 crore.