The state government had broken the backbone of liquor syndicate by limiting the allotment of model shops to licensees and by making the allotment system online, said Excise and Prohibition minister Jai Pratap Singh.
He was speaking in a function on state wide road safety campaign under the Curb the Irresponsible Consumption Program in lucknow on Wednesday. Singh told that the state government now was allotting two shops to each of the licensees. “Now a person applying for allotment of a shop is needed to submit all details, insolvency certificate and also his/her Addahar Cards and other details on address and identity proof,” he said.
The minister explained in the detail the government commitment to end the liquor syndicate. “For example if someone is applying for license in all 75 districts, for example, he will get only 150 shops only this way,’ he said.
He said the shortage of liquor will be end in the weeks to come. “We reviewed the policies of the previous government before implementing the new excise policy and it took time. Secondly, the demand for branded/ desi liquor shot up after the policies were reviewed and a transparent system was introduced. Also some of the distilleries started later and these all caused the delay in supply and the gap between demand and supply thus widened,” he explained.
He admitted that there was shortage of beer in the state and hoped that it will be addressed very soon. “The officials had been asked to ensure proper supply of the liquor in the market. We have taken reports on laxity of some excise officials which put the department in bad light and an action was initiated against them in the past,’ he told.
The minister told the department was concerned about the spurt in the number of road accidents due to drunken driving. “We are on the preventive side of this aspect. We ensure transparency in quality and distribution of liquor but at the same time we are also concerned about people’s health and their safety,’ he said.
Replying to a question, the minister said the department had removed 8500 shops which were at highways in compliance of apex court order. “We receive complaints about the model shops which were close to close to religious places, schools, educational institute or in residential area and addressing the complaints. We also will address the complaints about shops which are causing a safety concern to the residents of locality,” he assured.
Singh said the government had made the existing laws on Excise stricter while speaking about manufacturing of country made liquor. “The Excise act now slaps case with a punishment of life imprisonment on illegal manufacturers,’ the minister said while distancing self from the cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar’s comment in which he had said the Yadavas were in manufacturing of country made liquor. “There are several ministers working in the government and I am endorsing anybody’s comment,” he said.
The minister informed about plan to launch e commerce of liquor in the time to come. “We are mulling on such move but it will take time in taking a shape,’ he said.