Ahead of Holi, AP and Telangana go dry as Income Tax seizes Liquor Depots
WATER is not the only ground of dispute between the two new States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Liquor was supplied for the entire undivided State of Andhra Pradesh by the AP Beverages Corporation Ltd, a State Government undertaking. It seems this Corporation owes nearly 9000 crores to the Income Tax Department. With the division of the State, this Corporation also got divided and it seems both the State Corporations do not want to pay the income tax dues, each wanting the other to pay.
The Income Tax Department sealed some depots of the Corporations in both the States and that put a stop to the flow of liquor in two of the highest per capita liquor consuming states. Liquor shops are closed during HOLI and regular consumers stock their requirements much in advance, but this year the Income Tax department seems to have put a spanner in the works.