Despite Pauri district magistrate Chandra Shekhar Bhatt verbally instructing the district excise officer to close liquor shops in three locations, the agitation by women has continued against the liquor shops at Pauri, Kot and Agrora. In written, the district magistrate has instructed that the liquor shops which do not meet the guidelines of the Supreme Court and the state government excise policy should be closed down. The licenses for the liquor shops in Srinagar and Khirsu were surrendered on Friday. The protests and closure of liquor shops have also resulted in a rise in the smuggling and sale of illegal liquor in the district.
According to officials, Rs one crore revenue could be earned till April 21 against the fixed target of Rs 5.75 crore for the month of April.
Assistant commissioner acting as the district excise officer, PS Mishra told The Pioneer that out of the 34 licensed liquor shops in the district in the last financial year, only 12 shops are open in total revenue mode (providing revenue for entire period), nine shops are open on daily wage basis (providing revenue only for open days) while 13 shops are closed due to stir in the district against the relocation of shops following supreme court orders and norms of the state government. Mishra said that all the liquor shops opened in the district are in compliance of supreme court directions and norms of the state government though protests are being staged against relocated shops. Stating that the administration respects the sentiments of the protesters and efforts are being made to shift the shops with the consent of the agitators. Mishra said that the licensed liquor shop in Kot had been open for the past five years , but due to stir and on the direction of District Magistrate, it has to be closed.
The liquor shop in Pauri which was affected by the 500 metre distance required from national highway was shifted to Mall Road. Despite this, the shop had to be closed down due to protest.
Mishra stressed that the Pauri district earned revenue of Rs 80 crore against Rs 63 crore target in the last financial year with the top three revenue generating liquor shops being located in Srinagar, Pauri and Kotdwar. However, during this financial year these shops could not be opened due to the stir. On the other hand the state government is also keeping an eye on the revenue being earned from licensed liquor shops with sources stating that notices are being served for the drop in revenue from such shops. The public states that the district administration should write to the government stating that the liquor shops cannot be opened due to the agitators, so that the chapter should be closed altogether.
Meanwhile, the protests, relocation and closing down of some liquor shops has given criminal elements greater scope for profit. This is evident from the rise in the smuggling and sale of illegal liquor in Pauri district. The district excise officer said that in the near future the administration will conduct a drive against illegal liquor at Kotdwar and Pauri in the district.