37% liquor vends come under restricted area in Mohali

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 21

With having around 37 per cent liquor vends coming under restricted area as per the Apex Court's fresh order, the Mohali district excise authorities indicated an estimated loss of revenue of around Rs 45 crore in the upcoming allotment of the liquor shops.

"Of 232 liquor vends, as many as 85 shops have been located in the restricted area as per the Supreme Court's fresh directions regarding ban on liquor vends within 500m from national highways in entire Mohali district," said a senior officer of Excise and Taxation Department.  Under the orders, the department would not allot new licenses for these sites in its fresh policy. The official indicated that the department would find it hard to locate new sites in place of the sites that have come under the restricted area. "In that case, the department will then suffer an estimated loss of Rs 40 to 45 crore," said the official.  He said under the guidelines, the liquor vends could not be located within 200m radius from any educational institute, religious site or hospital. "Not only have the residents, but the shopkeepers also raised an objection on earmarking of liquor site in any market or near residential area. Certainly, it is going to be toughened to identify liquor vend sites now," said the official.  The total revenue, being earned from allotment of liquor licenses in the district, is Rs 136 crore.