Hyderabad: Excise minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Wednesday said that excise revenue rose sharply during the 10-year tenure of the previous BRS govt. The revenue, which stood at Rs 10,012 crore in 2014–2015, increased to Rs 34,869 crore by 2023–2024, when the BRS went out of power. He noted that in that final year alone, revenue increased by Rs 2,762 crore (27.6%). After the Congress formed the govt, the excise department’s revenue in 2024–2025 stood at Rs 34,603 crore, and in 2025–2026 (up to Feb 26), it reached only Rs 35,959 crore.On average, the annual increase during this period was merely Rs 1,849 crore. He further clarified that a significant portion of this increase, about Rs 2,900 crore, was generated through the tendering process for wine shops in Telangana during the 2025–2027 cycle, he said. The minister said that the excise department is taking measures to curb illicit liquor. While 11,867 cases were registered in the past, 18,500 cases, a 56% increase, have been registered under the current administration.He added that continuous surveillance is being maintained over “belt shops”. While 4,171 cases were registered previously, 5,184 cases, a 24% increase, have been registered under the Congress govt. He also informed the assembly that a study would be conducted on the issue of ‘Ippa Sara’ (liquor made from Mahua flowers).Earlier, senior BRS leader T Harish Rao sought to know how the Congress govt plans to achieve the target of Rs 46,941 crore projected in the budget by the Congress govt for the ensuing fiscal.The assembly on Wednesday took up the voting of demands for grants for the 2026-27 budget across several departments, including agriculture, marketing, co-operation, handlooms, textiles, excise, tourism, culture and archaeology, SC and ST welfare, animal husbandry and fisheries, public enterprises and minority welfare. Replies were given by the ministers holding respective portfolios.Walkout over waiverBRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao, along with his party members, staged a walkout before the House granted the demands. He said the protest was against agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao’s claim that the crop loan waiver had been completed, asserting that many farmers were still awaiting the benefit.
