No to ex-servicemen from other states

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 3

Ex-servicemen of the other states are returning disappointed from the CSD canteen situated at Sector 21 after the management has asked them to procure liquor from other canteens.

The management, in a public notice pasted outside the liquor section of the canteen, has advised all card holders of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to take their quota of liquor from the canteen situated at Sector 29 till the stock position improves.

The canteen in Sector 21 has the highest footfall of ex-servicemen in the tricity. While no reasons was cited for the shortage of stock, sources said one of the reasons for taking the decision was huge difference in the prices of liquor in states. With the prices of liquor being higher in the other states in comparison to Chandigarh, a large number of ex-servicemen visit the city to get their quota of liquor, which resulted in the shortage at the canteen. One of the officer at the canteen said though the restriction had been imposed on the outsiders, there was no shortage for the card holders of Chandigarh.

Lt Col (retd) SS Sohi, chairman of ex-servicemen grievance cell, said putting restrictions on the  ex-servicemen of the  other states was  resulting in unnecessary harassment  to those who had the cards  of other states. He said with the launch of the smart cards  for canteens,  one can get it from all over the  country. Colonel Sohi has urged the  Government of the  Punjab to  reduce  the  tax on  CSD  items to make it on a par  with Chandigarh. 

He said the  stock of other items had also  been  affected  in the canteens after the  annual turnover limit  (ATOL)  was reduced by the government.