Bengaluru : Within hours of stating that the state government is deciding on a proposal to provide good quality liquor at cheaper rates, Excise Minister H Nagesh retracted from his statement.

In an official release later, the minister said that the government is not even thinking on those lines. The proposal is in existence since 2013 but I have not taken it up with the government, he said.

In the conference, he also said that no new licences will be given even though there is a huge demand for it. The department will complete its target of Rs. 20,950 crore in revenue within the end of this financial year, Rs. 16,100 crore has been collected till now.