Telangana government criticized for reliance on excise revenue

The Telangana government is facing criticism for its heavy reliance on revenue from liquor sales. This issue was raised during discussions in the Legislative Assembly on March 25, 2025. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) member Vemula Prashanth Reddy claimed that the government aims to raise ₹50,000 crore from Excise duties, which is ₹12,000 crore more than the previous year. Members of the opposition, including the BJP, echoed concern over this dependence on liquor sales. BJP member Dhanpal Surynarayana stated that the government plans to generate 16% of its total revenue from Excise duties alone. He criticized the situation, saying that while the slogan "Telangana Rising" is popular, the state is actually rising in liquor sales and the presence of illegal substances. Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao countered claims, stating that the number of belt shops, or outlets not paying required fees, increased under the BRS government. He noted that revenue from Excise duties rose sharply from ₹9,000 crore in 2014-15 to ₹34,000 crore by 2022-23. He attributed this increase to tax hikes made by the previous government. The current government is taking measures to combat illegal liquor sales, including installing CCTV cameras and improving checks at border posts. Minister D. Sridhar Babu emphasized that the Congress government is working to limit the spread of belt shops, which had flourished during the BRS era.