Arrack brewing rampant in most districts of state

VIJAYAWADA: While the state government is firm on implementing a complete ban on liquor, the prohibition and excise officials are facing a tough challenge trying to rein in arrack production. Recent raids by the department showed that arrack production is rampant across the state, except in Nellore district.

According to the data from excise department, East Godavari and Kurnool districts tops the list in arrack brewing. On the other hand, not a single case of arrack brewing has been reported in Nellore district, Prakasam and Kadapa districts, too, relatively fared better with fewer number of cases being reported when compared to other districts.

Earlier, the excise department had launched a special drive called ‘Navodayam’ with an aim to make the state arrack-free in 2016. Excise officials conducted raids and awareness programs across the state. As a reformatory measure, they launched a rehabilitation programme for people addicted to arrack, especially in Agency areas. The special drive was conducted in two phases and the excise department had declared nine out of 13 districts arrack free.

However, the latest data suggest that the Navodayam programme has lost steam and arrack has made a comeback in the districts, which were declared arrack free. Speaking to TOI, director of prohibition and excise, P Hari Kumar said arrack brewing is prevalent in the lanka villages of East Godavari and agency areas.

He also observed that brewing of arrack is high in districts, which share their borders with other states. For instance, Arrack is produced in Chittoor district , which shares its border with Telangana, similarlyit is produced in Srikakulam, which shares its border with Odisha.

He revealed that a large number of people residing in remote areas in the agency are addicted arrack. But a staff crunch has made cracking down on arrack brewers difficult.

“Eradication of arrack brewing is top priority, without which the liquor ban will not be a success,” Kumar said.