VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has decided to implement a new excise policy starting October 1. The Cabinet also approved a comprehensive revamp of the Excise Department.
Minister for Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathy announced that a Cabinet Sub-Committee will review the excise department's proposals. The previous monopoly in liquor production and sales led to a lack of popular brands and health issues due to substandard products.
An official team will visit states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka to study their excise policies. The new policy will be finalized by September 5, 2024, and implemented on October 1, 2024. Measures will also be introduced to combat smuggling and provide quality liquor at affordable prices. Additionally, a detailed study of de-addiction and rehabilitation systems in other states will be conducted.
The Cabinet has also decided to halt land registrations for three months to address issues from the previous YSRC regime and will issue new land passbooks with official seals and QR codes. Furthermore, the Cabinet resolved to continue the ban on CPI (Maoist) for another year, and revoke specific government orders related to animal husbandry and fisheries that were seen as violating fishermen’s rights.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the addition of 380 teaching and non-teaching posts for new medical colleges and agreed to begin the 2024-25 academic year with 100 MBBS seats in newly established colleges. The decision includes studying the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in Gujarat for potential implementation.