Regardless of the ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawat raising a hue and cry over the Government fiats doing away with important measures taken by the democratically empowered Cabinet, the Uttarakhand Government, now operating under the President's Rule, literally scrapped the Foreign liquor Policy-2 on Tuesday.
The Government order stripped the Mandi Samiti of its powers to make bulk purchases from the manufacturers from the trade altogether. From now onwards, as per the order, the manufacturers will open their warehouses in each of the 13 districts or as per their convenience. This aside, things changed for Havelia, a liquor manufacturer, authorised to supply 10 percent of the total beer consumed in the State as the Government withdrew the protection as well.
The order supposedly cleared from the end of the Governor has doubtless dealt a shattering blow to the former CM Harish Rawat, who had enforced Fl-2 in the face of strong protest coming from the Opposition as well as from within the Cabinet. The controversial Fl-2 had given the Mandi Committee absolute power to make bulk purchase while GMVN and KMVN were authorised to transport the liquor in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions, respectively. The measure raised hackles across the State with those opposed to it saying that things had been conceived to favour a particular brand of liquor at the expense of others.
The Opposition raised hammer and tongs, pillorying the Harish Rawat Government following the sting CD, showing then secretary to CM Mohammad Shahid offering on behalf of then CM to the liquor barons changes in the policy in lieu of money.
The Opposition had torn into the then government, saying that they had gone into a secret deal with a particular brand as a result of which the brand was supplying low quality liquor, posing thus health threats to the common consumers. However, seemingly unfazed by the criticism, Harish Rawat had affirmed that they had enforced the new policy to promote locally produced beverage manufactured from the indigenous ingredients like Mandua and Malta.
Things took an interesting turn after some leading liquor manufacturing companies moved the High Court, challenging Fl-2 while bolstering their case with facts and figures. They had alleged that while, earlier, their liquor was consumed by the millions the volume of sale had dwindled to mere a few thousands thanks to Fl-2, forcing them to incur losses to the tune of crores. They also said that the common people were unhappy too as they were being denied access to the boozes they loved to have.
The new order issued by the State Government seems to have addressed their grievances as it has ensured that the manufacturing companies would supply liquor or beer in proportion to the demand of the market and they would open warehouses in each of the 13 districts of the State.
Ironically, while the former State Government claimed to have allotted quota of outlets through lottery system Havelia was treated differently being allowed to open one liquor outlet in each of the districts. Now, the new order has done away with the protective system meant for a particular brand while ensuring that only those selected through the lottery would sell liquor.
In a relief of sorts to the liquor traders, the order has withdrawn the previous fiat issued to the liquor traders of selling beer of a particular brand to the extent that such sale made at least 10 percent of their total Beer sale.