Excise Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena chairing a review meeting in Mangalagiri on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In a decisive push to eradicate illicitly distilled (ID) liquor from Andhra Pradesh, Principal Secretary (Excise) Mukesh Kumar Meena has set a deadline of September 30, 2025, to make the State free of the menace.

The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting held at the Prohibition & Excise Commissioner’s Office in Mangalagiri on Wednesday, as part of the Navodayam 2.0 initiative.

Addressing the officials from across the State, Mr. Meena laid out a comprehensive strategy for intensified enforcement, calling for district-specific plans and visible results.

Special focus has been laid on Kakinada, East Godavari, Srikakulam, and Parvathipuram-Manyam ditsricts, where the battle against ID liquor has remained persistent.

Citing the importance of accountability, Mr. Meena made it clear that timelines must be met without exception and that officers performance will be under continuous review.

The meeting reviewed efforts to curb the inflow of non-duty paid liquor (NDPL).

Noting that the introduction of ₹99 liquor brands has helped reduce the NDPL activity, Mr. Meena urged the officials to stay vigilant, particularly in the border-sensitive districts including Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, Kurnool, Nandyal, and Annamayya.

Retail regulation

On retail regulation, Mr. Meena reiterated that liquor sales must strictly adhere to Maximum Retail Price (MRP) norms and operate only within authorised hours.

He emphasised preventive measures to avoid any untoward incidents and reinforced the need for strict administrative discipline. All excise officers were directed to remain stationed in their respective headquarters, ensure prompt grievance redressal, and implement mandatory night patrolling by senior officials.

As a measure to support coordination and officer preparedness, Mr. Meena launched the Diary-cum-Handbook of the Andhra Pradesh State Excise Executive Officers Association during the meeting. The handbook is expected to enhance operational efficiency and professional conduct across the department.