Good news seems to be around for boozers as Jammu and Kashmir Government may soon allow wine traders to operate but at hiked rates to generate revenue.
As per sources in the J&K Excise Department, following the footsteps of many other states, the government of Jammu and Kashmir may soon take a call and go ahead with liquor sale but with hiked price.
“A proposal has been drafted for submitting it in the Administrative Council to be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu in days,” sources here told UNI.
They said that it has been proposed that reopening of standalone retail liquor vends or wine shops should be allowed except those located in the Containment Zones and in the malls and the shopping complexes in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir subject to the condition.
However, it has been further proposed to impose additional Retail Excise Duty, in pursuance of Section 16 of J&K Excise Act Svt, 1958.
As per proposal, 50 percent duty shall be hiked on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) on IMFL/IFL, JK Special Whisky, Beer/RTD and Wine/Cider.
Pertinent to mention here that J&K Excise Commissioner, Rajesh Kumar Shavan here recently said that in prevailing situation when Jammu is in ‘Red Zone’, social distancing may get defeated if liquor shops are thrown open.
He had also said that Government administration has been taking several decisions considering different aspects besides keeping in view the ongoing safety measures if other shops are opened and whenever administration decides to open liquor vends we (the department) will ensure proper functioning and there will be no compromising on social distancing.
Pertinent to mention here that hoping to generate revenue, the central government has given some relaxation in the nationwide lockdown to several states allowing them to open liquor shops.
He also claimed that the Government earns around Rs 100 Crore in a month (roughly Rs 3 Crore) on a day.
“I don’t see this as a loss, as the demand is high and when the shops will be allowed to operate, we will make over this loss,” said Mr Shavan.
Earlier J&K Excise Department also undertook exercise of stock verification and verified many wine shops and liquor selling establishments in the Jammu region following reports of illegal sale and black marketing of liquor during the lockdown period.
There are total 220 shops in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
On April 12, Charanjeet Singh, President of Jammu Wine Traders Association here said, “we are dealing with a small and smooth trade, itself regulated by the government and everyone is running a licensed shop. Every liquor trader is sincerely paying taxes and generating revenue for the government”.
“There are total 224 shops in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 220 are in Jammu region and four in Kashmir,” he added and said that each shop generate around Rs 14 to 15 lakh revenue to the government including licence, assessment and additional fee.
He had also said that the government is suffering huge losses at the moment as presently, the focus is on saving human lives, but if the wine shops, after setting a planned procedure during lockdown, are thrown open for a brief period, they can generate income.
Industry bodies representing the alcohol sector had previously written to the central government to consider opening of wine shops.
Indian States collectively suffered a revenue loss of about Rs 700 crore a day owing to no sales of alcoholic beverages. (UNI)