Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao might be strongly batting for extension of lockdown period for at least another two weeks, if not till June 3, to overcome the Coronavirus crisis.
But his government is said to be already working out plans on what areas relaxation could be given if there is a partial lifting of lockdown by the Centre after April 14.
According to highly placed sources, the first thing KCR might give permission if the lockdown is lifted partially is for liquor shops.
“There is every possibility that the restrictions over liquor sale will be lifted. If not bars, the government might allow opening of liquor shops, while enforcing stringent social distancing norms,” a source said.
He pointed out that out of Rs 400 crore-odd revenue being lost by the state government during the lockdown period, nearly Rs 200 crore comes only from liquor revenue.
“If liquor shops are opened, it would be a big relief for the state, as it can generate huge revenue,” the source said.
However, KCR knows there would be a mad rush at the wine shops, if the restrictions are lifted.
“What he has to do is to allow liquor shops to be opened from 7 am to 6 pm, arrange barricades at every shop so that people would not surround the shop in big numbers but stand in queue by maintaining social distance,” he said.
He also suggested that permit rooms should not be allowed and no road side drinking be permitted, so that the people would take the liquor bottles home and consume.
“Sufficient care is taken to ensure that there is no black-marketing of liquor and also sale of liquor in belt shops. It should be sold only in authorised shops,” he suggested.
