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Even when Tamil Nadu reported 580 new cases of people testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the cumulative count in the state to 5,409, the state saw liquor sales worth Rs 150 crore, according to preliminary estimates, on the first day. reopening of TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, the state’s monopoly liquor seller).
The Tamil Nadu government had allowed the reopening of TASMAC outlets throughout the state, except in the Greater Chennai area. TASMAC has a total of 5,300 points of sale and employs more than 25,000 people. Choas prevailed at points of sale in various districts, including Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu.
The police had to resort to a light load of lathi in some of the districts, as desperate drinkers stepped into the rules of social distancing. Police struggled to control crowds wanting to buy liquor, as all TASMAC outlets have been closed in the state since March 24. Preliminary estimates from the state government indicated that 150 rupee liquor was sold in Tamil Nadu.
The government’s move to open TASMAC outlets had drawn criticism from opposition parties, including M K Stalin, the Congress party, and others from the DMK. However, the struggling state government for revenue had decided to go ahead with sales. In 2018-19, only TASMAC generated revenue of Rs 31,157.83 crore.
Meanwhile, two more deaths were also reported as Covid-19 on Thursday brought the cumulative count to 37.
Of the 580 new cases registered on Thursday, government officials admitted that 316 of them were from Chennai and that most of them are attributed to the Koyambedu market group. As of Thursday, there are 3,822 active Covid-19 cases in the state.
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