State Prohibition and Excise Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena on Saturday said the department would conduct a series of awareness programmes called ‘Jagrithi’ for people addicted to alcohol.
Speaking informally to mediapersons on his maiden visit to the Excise Commissionerate at Prasadampadu after taking charge, he said the department would also extend support for setting up de-addiction centres and counselling would form part of the ‘Jagrithi’ drive.
Pointing to the fact that he had taken over as the Commissioner in the election time, Mr. Meena said it was a great challenge as the department would be constantly under the scanner of the Election Commission.
Informing that a meeting was scheduled with the Central Election Commission on Tuesday (February 12), he said the department would have to continuously report to the commission.
The policies to be adopted by the department during election time were yet to be discussed, he said.
Arrack sale prevention
The focus, he said, would be on removal of belt shops across the State curbing sale of country arrack in four districts in particular. A special programme called ‘Navodayam’ would be launched to make Andhra Pradesh free of country arrack menace.
During elections, vigil would be further tightened to prevent import of liquor from other States into A.P. besides taking stringent measures to curb sale of non-duty liquor, he said, adding that the department had not given any sales targets to liquor shop owners.
Referring to ganja, he said the department would seek coordination of the police department to strictly implement related norms.
Later, addressing the department staff, he said since elections were nearing, they would have to work with great efficiency. Promising to look into the problems of the staff, he said he was looking forward to their cooperation for effective discharge of his duties.
Excise wing Joint Commissioner Chandrasekhar Naidu, Additional Commissioner Bhaskar, Officer on Special Duty Nageswara Rao, General Manager Vallabha Srisha and others were present.