Punjab okays home-delivery of liquor; vends to open from May 7
Punjab government has announced that the home delivery of liquor will begin in the state after the 9 am-1 pm opening hours. The liquor vends will be opening from May 7. Meanwhile, it has been directed that the home delivery of liquor in Punjab should be operated on a local level. The instructions in this regard have been issued by the Excise and Taxation Department.
The state government hopes to boost the liquor sale by allowing home delivery between 1 pm and 6 pm. As per the report, Vivek Pratap Singh, Excise and Taxation Commissioner said that "When the lockdown was announced, the old licencees were granted the extension and they paid 60 percent of the fee. The remaining had to be paid in the last week of March."
He added that if liquor is home-delivered, it will prevent crowding at the vends. However, the licencees say the liquor being cheaper in Haryana and Chandigarh, the move is bound to encourage the smuggling. Therefore, the Liquor licencees have written to the Chief Minister, seeking 50 percent cut in the licence fee and more time to deposit the pending fee, according to a contractor.
Also Read | Lockdown 3.0: Punjab Government imposes additional restrictions; here’s a list of permitted activities
Meanwhile, Punjab Government on Monday imposed the additional restrictions over and above the activities permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The additional restrictions imposed by the state include that the District Magistrates can regulate the activities from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm during the curfew.
-PTC News
