Chennai: Prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh has warned transport contractors of Tasmac not to demand money from retail shops, as it could pave the way for MRP violation.While inspecting a few distilleries and Tasmac depots on Sunday, the minister asked the transport contractors how much they received per carton at retail shops, and one of the loadmen told him that they get ₹5 per carton for refreshment.Vignesh immediately warned against this practice. He said the transport contractor should bear all expenses right from the workers’ salary to the cost of damaged bottles. “It is unfair to demand money from retail shops as they end up collecting extra from consumers and end up getting suspended,” he said.Later, speaking to the media, the minister said he inspected the distilleries to check whether the manufacturing units followed all norms during production and to prevent pilferage. “I wanted to understand the department top-to-bottom to decide where to begin transformation from,” he said. Vignesh said the complaints of MRP violation are taken seriously, and action will be initiated against the personnel concerned.He also dismissed the speculations about privatisation of Tasmac. “It is too early to say anything. We have just started studying the organisation. The idea is to do things that are good both for the public and the govt. The govt is making efforts not to depend on the revenue of Tasmac to run the govt. That’s why we closed 717 shops,” he said.The minister said shops that prove a hindrance to the public will be relocated. “Our next target is to regulate the operations of recreational clubs,” he added.
