The implementation of nationwide lockdown to prevent spread of coronavirus for more than a month could have come as a blessing in disguise for YSR Congress president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has announced his plans to enforce prohibition in the state in a phased manner.
Since October last, the Jagan government has been restricting the sale of liquor by reducing the number of wine shops and bars and entrusting the running of wine shops to the AP State Beverages Corporation itself. The government has claimed that it successfully brought down liquor consumption in the state.
The lockdown must have further brought down liquor consumption, as for the last 40 days, there have been no sale of liquor anywhere in the state. There are incidents of some policemen indulging in smuggling here and there, but by and large it has checked the liquor.
So, lockdown is an excellent opportunity for Jagan to implement prohibition in the state. Since the people are not getting liquor anyways, he has got the chance to stop liquor production completely so that people will gradually get habituated to live without liquor.
But surprisingly, the Jagan government on Saturday issued orders allowing manufacturing of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Beer with immediate effect, subject to the conditions imposed by the Central government.
The liquor and beer manufacturers situated in the rural areas and that are outside the municipal corporations and municipalities have been allowed to function.
The orders would be applicable to all the liquor and beer manufacturers located in Green / Orange / Red zones subject to guidelines.
According to the notification, all areas on the premises must be disinfected, special transportation facility to be arranged for workers without depending on public transport and vehicles must be run only with 30 to 40 per cent passenger capacity.
It further said all vehicles and machinery must be disinfected; thermal scanning for workers entering or exiting is mandatory; provision of hand wash and sanitizers must be made at all entry and exit points, work places must have a gap of one hour between shifts, staggering of lunch breaks to ensure social distancing; large gatherings are to be discouraged and strict ban on consumption of gutka, tobacco etc and spitting is strictly prohibited.
There should be a complete ban on non-essential visitors at the work sites.