Less Than Half Of 840 Bars Get Allotment Applications On Last Day
However, the number may rise a bit as demand drafts may be accepted for payment of licence fee etc up mid-night.
Vijayawada:Only less than half of the total 840 regular bars notified for allotment through draw of lots on Saturday under the new bar policy received application forms on the last day of their filing before 9pm on Friday.
As per excise authorities data, applications were received for 367 bars; and only 72 out of 84 bars reserved for Geetha Kulalu received the applications. As per norms, each bar would get four applications.
However, the number may rise a bit as demand drafts may be accepted for payment of licence fee etc up mid-night.
The excise department would conduct a draw of lots on Saturday morning for those who paid the licence fee for allotment of bars. This is, in case no extension of deadline is granted for submission of applications.
Those in the liquor business note that the excise authorities had taken up a massive campaign to persuade liquor traders, who already have retail shops, to file applications for regular bars too. But, only old traders have responded.
Only a few newcomers joined the race to file applications for allotment of regular bars.
The state government reserved 84 bars for allotment to the Geetha Kulalu community members, with licence fee fixed at a concessional 50 per cent of what is taken for regular bars. The draw of lots would be done on Monday for their allotment.
A major reason cited for the lack of good response for allotment of bars is the availability of cheap liquor at Rs 100 liquor retail shops. The same is priced at Rs 130 in bars. There would also be a levy of 15 per cent in additional retail excise tax.
The other reasons are the thumb rule of four applications for allotment of each bar and allowing permit rooms as annexes to the liquor retail shop for guzzlers to consume liquor at relatively cheap price.