Bidders rue delay in liquor licences in J&K
Jammu, April 14
Ruing the delay in issuing licence for liquor vends in J&K by the Excise and Taxation Department, the H1 (highest) bidders have demanded early resolution of the matter.
The Excise Department had asked the H1 bidders to provide their bank details to ascertain there was no dubious payment. Liquor vends were supposed to start operations from April 1 but the demand of documents regarding bank details has delayed the process and the bidders have come out openly against the department.
As per an official statement by the Finance Department, “During the current year, 279 liquor vends were put on e-auction, of which 252 have been cleared for allotment of JKEL-2 licence”.
While the allotment of licence for vends has been cleared, the H1 bidders said the department was delaying the process of issuing licences due to unknown reasons.
The department had asked for bank transaction details from the H1 bidders after reports that liquor mafia may try to form a cartel. There are reports that the liquor mafia may be using individuals as bidders with financial backing from the mafia.
Didar Singh, an H1 bidder from Kathua district, said documents, including bank statements and source of income, have already been submitted to the Excise Department. “This is not only causing loss to us but the delay has resulted in loss to the government also as vends have not started operations yet.”
Another H1 bidder from Samba district, who did not want to be identified, said the delay has given an opportunity to the smugglers to bring liquor from Punjab as only few vends are operating in Jammu.