Indelible ink, which has been used for decades in the country during elections, is being used on the fingers of those purchased liquor in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.
Liquor shops in the Hoshangabad district have started putting a mark of indelible ink on the finger of those reaching shops to buy liquor.
After confrontation with the liquor traders, the State Government finally reached to an agreement on Wednesday paving the way for opening retail shops of liquor in the State. Traders alleging corona infection fear and high licence fee were not eager to open shops in the State.
Till now these liquor vendors are allowed in green and orange zones marked for corona prevention. However, in Hoshanagabad, the liquor shops have started noting down the names of buyers and also put an ink mark on their fingers.
One of the liquor traders claimed that the ink mark will ensure that a single person does not visit the shop again same day to buy booze and unnecessary crowding at liquor vends could be avoided.
These shops opened after around 1.5 months are witnessing huge crowds since Wednesday.
Excise office Abhishek Tiwari said that the ink mark is put on the fingers of buyers at liquor shops along with noting their name, addresses so that contact history could be traced in case of corona infection.
Meanwhile, official sources said that the State Government is also planning to levy additional cess of around 5VAT to raise additional revenue from liquor sale amid cash crunch.