With protests led by women continuing across the State against the relocation of booze vends displaced following the Supreme Court order, Trivendra Singh Rawat Government has unveiled its excise policy after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, stressing on earning 25 per cent more revenue for the year 2017-18.
Besides, as per the just unveiled policy, new roads would be built across the State from the funds to be earned through cess placed on excise. Such funds would be used too for ensuring road safety and social security, things which the protesters are making issues of their stir, pointing out that boozing affects road safety and domestic peace and stability. The CM had convened the Cabinet meeting principally to give the final touches to the new excise policy. Following a long debate, the Government made public the policy.
This was disclosed by State Cabinet Minister and Government spokesperson Madan Kaushik after Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. It was decided in course of the Cabinet meeting that from June, liquor shops would open for six hours in nine hill districts from 12 pm to 6 pm while in the four plain districts, the timing remain the same from 10 am to 10 pm.
It is learnt that this year, the State Government has set a target of earning Rs 2,310 crore through sale of liquor. This would be around Rs 405 crore more than the financial year 2016-17. Each district has been given target as per their tentative capacity and the district magistrates would distribute liquor to each liquor vend in their respective districts as per the norms. Besides, as per the new excise policy, the liquor venders this year would pay MGD if they get extra supply. For domestic liquor shops, registration fee would be Rs 22,000 while in case of foreign liquor, the fee would be Rs 25,000.
“In the four plain districts — Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital — liquor shops would be open between 10 am and 10 pm while in other nine — Tehri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh and Almora— the timing would be between 12 and 6 pm. Although eligibility criteria would remain the same,” said an official after the Cabinet meeting was over.
It is further learnt that as per the policy, liquor vendors would collect two per cent cess on MRP. While one per cent will be spent on road safety one percent would be spent on social security. To avoid overcharging on MRP, the State Government has made mandatory for the booze vends to give computerised slips to the customers. Besides, swap machines must be installed in the vends to facilitate the buyers to pay through credit and debit cards. The Cabinet made it clear that in case the Government receives more than six complaints regarding overcharging the licence of such vends would be terminated with immediate effect.
By way of incentives, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) would be given 50 per cent rebate on their registration charges if they open bar in the guest houses being run by them. Except for the areas under the urban local bodies, joint shops can be opened in other areas to sell both domestic and foreign liquor. This aside, the policy made it clear that the shopkeepers selling liquor must abide by the Supreme Court orders dated December 15, 2016 and March 31, 2017.