Erode (TN), Jun 19 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Housing and Excise Minister S Muthusamy on Monday said the government is running Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) to prevent the illicit distillation of arrack in the state.
TASMAC is a company owned by the TN government which oversees wholesale and retail sales of alcoholic beverages in the state.
The minister was responding to reporters’ queries days after he was allocated the excise portfolio following Minister V Senthil Balaji’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a cash-for-jobs scam. Balaji held the Electricity, Excise and Prohibition departments.
“The Tamil Nadu Government is running TASMAC not for earning money or to ensure financial development of the government. Rather, it is to reduce the number of liquor addicts. Also, fixing a target of garnering Rs 50,000 crore in liquor sales is also to prevent the illicit distillation of arrack, etc.,” Muthusamy said after inaugurating road projects worth Rs 160 crore in Erode City Municipal Corporation.
Replying to a question posed by media persons, the Minister said the government has received information about the opening of liquor stores for alcohol sales from 6 am itself at some places instead of 12 pm as is the norm across the state.
He said the government will scrutinise the early morning sales of TASMAC liquor within 15 days and announce steps to be taken against such sellers in due course.
Regarding a section of the farmers demand for stopping concrete lining in the Lower Bhavani Project canal and support shown by another group for the move, Muthusamy said a meeting of representatives of the two sides will be conducted to resolve the issue.
District Collector Raj Gopal Sunkara, MP A Ganeshamurthy, Erode City Mayor S Nagarathinam among others were present. PTI COR HDA
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