Hyderabad: Hectic political lobbying by applicants has stalled the issue of licences to set up new bars in GHMC limits and other districts. The delay is costing the state '30 crore per month towards licence fee and other taxes.
The state government, in its new excise policy that came into force from October 1, permitted 130 new bars in the state in addition to the existing 780.
Of these, 60 were to be allowed in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. There are 497 bars in the city. Most applications are to set up bars on the rapidly growing outskirts.
There is huge competition to secure the licences as bars in GHMC limits are considered to be highly profitably. For the 60 bars, the government had received 280 applications. After verification, only 70 were found to be eligible.
This triggered political lobbying from rejected applicants. There is a rush to meet city minister T. Padma Rao Goud, who handles the excise and prohibition, sports and youth affairs, besides Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Nayani Narasimha Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali.
Some ruling party leaders are calling up excise officials and making recommendations.
Coming under intense pressure, Excise officials suspended issuing licences and referred the issue to the government and is awaiting a response.
Such is the rush for new bars in the state that for 130 new bars to be allowed this year, 2,130 applications have been submitted.
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