Punjab Cabinet on Monday authorised the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to decide on changes incorporated in the State’s excise policy, including relief to be given to the liquor contractors, home delivery of liquor, or imposing tax on liquor, among others.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the excise and taxation portfolio, would now take the final call on the amendments made in the state’s Excise Policy in the light of the impact of COVID-19 and the prolonged lockdown on the liquor business, after the Minister consensually decided to leave the decision on him without holding any discussion on the changes.
After 15-minute Cabinet meeting, the state Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said: “The Chief Minister has been authorized to tweak the excise policy in wake of the 36 business days lost due to the curfew (between April 1 and May 6).”
However, the issue of home delivery of liquor was also discussed during the meeting, but no final decision was taken in the matter after some Minister expressed their apprehensions on allowing doorstep delivery. The Chief Minister is likely to decide on the issue in the next couple of days, said the government spokesperson.
Notably, the state’s liquor contractors has all along been demanding from the State Government to compensate them for the 45 days that liquor vends had to be closed.
Many Punjab Congress leaders, including the state president Sunil Jakhar, Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, among others have opposed the decision for home delivery of liquor and sought its review.