Chennai, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Prohibition and Excise Minister Vignesh on Saturday ruled out any move to privatise the state-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), while strongly defending the Vijay-led government’s decision to shut down hundreds of liquor outlets as part of its phased policy to reduce the state’s dependence on liquor sales.
Speaking to reporters, the minister dismissed allegations that the government was planning to hand over TASMAC operations to private players.
“There is no proposal to privatise TASMAC,” he said, adding that the administration remained committed to regulating liquor sales through the state-run network.
Vignesh also rejected criticism from opposition parties regarding the closure of TASMAC outlets, arguing that similar measures had been undertaken by previous governments.
According to him, earlier administrations had primarily shut down underperforming outlets and shops without attached bars, resulting in minimal revenue loss.
“In contrast, the 717 TASMAC shops closed by the present government were revenue-generating outlets. Some of these shops recorded daily sales of up to Rs 25 lakh, while even the lowest-performing among them generated around Rs 5 lakh a day,” the minister said.
The minister claimed that the closure of these outlets had led to a substantial reduction in liquor-related revenue, estimating the impact at between Rs 7,000 crore and Rs 8,000 crore annually. Despite the financial implications, he said the government remained committed to its policy objectives.
The closure of 717 liquor shops was one of the first major announcements made by the Vijay government after assuming office. The move was projected as the beginning of a phased strategy aimed at reducing the number of liquor outlets across the state and addressing growing public concerns over alcohol consumption and its social consequences.
Vignesh also launched a sharp attack on the previous administration, alleging large-scale irregularities in TASMAC's operations.
He claimed that the government had uncovered significant issues and suggested that further revelations could emerge in the coming months.
“We have been in office for only about 20 days and are proceeding cautiously. But if necessary, we will place all the facts before the public. Those responsible for wrongdoing should remain silent rather than attempt to mislead people,” he said.
The minister reiterated that the government would continue reviewing TASMAC operations and indicated that further action against additional outlets could be considered based on revenue patterns, compliance issues, and policy priorities.
Source: IANS
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