With private liquor and beer shops going to be closed from August 1 in view of a major shortage of liquor in the national capital, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government is considering a one-month extension for its new excise policy. Still working.
Earlier on July 30, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said that the Delhi government has withdrawn the new excise policy and directed to sell liquor only from government-run shops.
A top government source said, “However, in view of the chaos due to the closure of private liquor shops and the time required to open government contracts, a proposal will soon be tabled before the Delhi cabinet for extension of the policy for 2021-22.” likely to be done.”
As per the details, 468 private liquor shops operating in Delhi will be closed from August 1 as the period of their license and the new excise policy expires on July 31.
Read also: Explainer: Delhi’s new excise policy and why LG is demanding a CBI probe
To sell off their remaining stock, private liquor stores across the city offered steep discounts and one plus one free and one plus two freebies on Saturdays.
With the end of the new excise policy, the excise licenses issued for bar and wholesale operations in hotels, clubs and restaurants besides private liquor shops in the city will become redundant.
That is, after July 31, unless any alternative arrangement is made by the government, there will be almost no supply of liquor from wholesalers in the entire hospitality sector and retail vendors of Delhi.
Manish Sisodia, citing confusion among people, had asked the chief secretary to ensure that there is no chaos in the city during the transition period before the opening of government liquor shops and sale of illicit liquor. But it also stopped. Officials said that the proposal for extension of the excise policy was sent to Sisodia through the Chief Secretary.
PTI quoted an official as saying, “After the approval of the Delhi cabinet, the proposal will be sent to the LG for his approval. The whole process may take around a week and unless an extension is given after the approval of the LG.” Till then there will be shortage in the city.” Saying.
The Excise Policy 2021-22 has been extended twice for the first two months after April. The Delhi government has decided to go back to the old excise system and run a liquor shop for the coming six months.
After a CBI inquiry recommended by Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, the city is battling alcohol shortage for the second time within any year.
Earlier, there was a liquor shortage in Delhi in November 2021, when the new excise policy brought in operation of private liquor shops as government-run stores and individual licensees were leaving the retail business.
Under the new excise policy, licenses were issued to 849 retailers through open bidding by the Excise Department in 2021. At present, there are 468 liquor shops operating in the city which will go out of business from August 1, leaving thousands of their employees jobless.
An official document from the Finance Department directed the Excise Commissioner to coordinate with the heads of four corporations of the Delhi government for the details of the liquor shops operated by them before the new Excise Policy (2021-22) comes into force from November 17, 2021. Have given.
Four corporations—DSIIDC, DTTDC, DCCWS and DSCSC—were running most of the liquor stores in the city before the Excise Policy 2021-22 came into existence after the Delhi government abandoned retail sale of liquor.
Under the old excise policy regime, four government corporations ran 475 liquor shops out of a total of 864 in Delhi. Private Stores, Licensed to Individuals, No. 389.
With PTI input.
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