The total prohibition line taken by Andhra Pradesh government in the new excise policy has become a source of filling the coffers of the State in Telangana.
The TS government has started its new excise policy inviting applications for the new liquor shops across the State.
Interestingly, as AP has imposed several restrictions on the liquor sales as it heads towards total prohibition, the liquor merchants from the state are moving to the TS.
The AP-TS border villages are now becoming the major sources of revenue for the TS government as the excise department had received a large number of applications for liquor shops.
The mandal headquarters in the TS, which are bordered to AP, are said to be the new target of the TS government.
Liquor availability in AP is restricted to as early as 8 pm and all the government-run liquor shops are closed at the stroke of 8.
There is no liquor there after except in the bars, which are not in the vicinity of the villages bordering the Telangana State.
Keeping this thirsty alcoholics, the TS is planning to open more liquor shops in the AP border villages.
Sources say, that the TS wants to give at least two to three liquor outlets in every mandal, even bringing down the required population strength to as low as 15,000 to 20,000 against the existing norm of 30,000 population for a liquor outlet.
The TS excise department is also circulating message for the prospective liquor merchants on the benefits of opening liquor outlets in Telangana, particularly in AP border and the profits expected from the first day of opening the liquor shop.
Thus the TS is targeting to net the excise revenue from AP, which is falling drastically due to the restrictions in sales and the availability of liquor.