AP committed to slashing liquor consumption: Min

Amaravati: Excise minister Narayana Swamy on Friday clarified that the state government has not secured any loans with a promise to not implement prohibition.He told the Assembly on Friday that the government is committed to reduce liquor consumption.TDP members Adireddy Bhavani, Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary and Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy asked whether the state government borrowed loans from financial institutions on the assurance of non-implementation of prohibition on liquor sales and asked the excise minister to table details in the Assembly.They also asked the minister to explain the time by which the state government wanted to implement prohibition in Andhra Pradesh.Responding to the TDP queries, deputy chief minister (excise and prohibition) K Narayana Swamy said that they have not borrowed any money on the promise of non-implementation of prohibition. He said that the state government is committed to reduce consumption of alcohol to improve physical standards of the people.Housing minister Jogi Ramesh refuted the charges that the housing project initiated by the state government had not crossed foundation level.