HYDERABAD: Several people's organisations have decided to fight the growing consumption of liquor in the State.

At a meeting organised by the Lok Satta here on Saturday, former special chief secretary to the State Government C. Arjun Rao exhorted the people's organisations to join together in fighting the

growing menace. Film director K. B. Tilak wanted the Government to implement total prohibition in a phased manner and also remove the belt shops.

He also demanded that anti-liquor campaign committees be formed by the Government from village-level earmarking 10 per cent of the excise revenue for the purpose, in accordance with the Congress party's poll promise.

Removal of shops

State president of Jana Chaitanya Vedika V. Lakshmana Reddy felt that the existing laws, if enforced strictly, could contain liquor consumption to a large measure. He said that liquor shops within 100-metre radius of schools, hospitals, places of worship, and along the national highways should be removed.

The meeting resolved to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the Speaker and leaders of all political parties in the Assembly on February 14.

The meeting demanded a survey on ill-effects of liquor in about 1,000 villages and also establishment of de-addiction centres in all area hospitals.

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