Andhra Dry Law Bill To Be Moved Today

A bill to amend the Prohibition Act will be moved in the Andhra Pradesh assembly today. It will be debated and adopted during this session.

A one-sentence enactment, including Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) in the list of intoxicants exempted in the Andhra Pradesh Prohibition Act, 1995, was approved by the state cabinet which met last evening.

The exemption section was inserted in the original bill to exempt `toddy (country liquor from palm trees) from the list of banned intoxicants.

Under the existing law, arrack (a locally-produced spirit) and Indian-made foreign liquor are banned from consumption and manufacture.

Soon after the cabinet meeting, prohibition minister N Raghuram met the special secretary of the state assembly and handed over the letter, requesting the Speaker of the assembly, Y Ramakrishnudu, to include the bill in todays agenda of the assembly.

 

The state cabinet will send the proposed bill to state Governor Krishna Kant for approval.

The government is understood to be taking steps to ensure the bill does not end up in the pending-tray for technical reasons. Under the rules, it is compulsory to place advance notice of any legislative measure to the Speaker. However, the Chair has the discretion to waive the notice requirement.

The modalities of lifting prohibition will be announced in the assembly.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met collectors and superintendents of police to discuss the fallout of lifting, even partially, prohibition.

The exercise of meeting the officials, sources said, was done district wise. Officials have been directed to stay alert and keep agitation against the amendment move at bay.

The Chief Minister reportedly told the police to check women taking to the streets, especially at a time when there is large-scale disquiet among farmers over supply of power for agriculture.

On Tuesday, a delegation of freedom fighters, womens representatives and other activists opposed to watering down prohibition, urged the Governor not to give his consent to the legislation.

The Andhra Pradesh Governor is a strong supporter of prohibition and had, three years ago, openly supported the anti-arrack agitation.

He is understood to be dismayed at the manner dry law is being implemented.