Bars and restaurants across Telangana remained closed on Monday strongly opposing the Prohibition and Excise department’s proposal of revision of privilege fee. (File Photo)

Hyderabad: Bars and restaurants across Telangana remained closed on Monday, strongly opposing the Prohibition and Excise Department’s proposal to revise the privilege fee and demanding that the government withdraw it immediately.

More than 1100 bars and restaurants observed bandh in response to a call given by Telangana Bars and Restaurants Association. The Association demanded that the State government withdraw its decision to increase the fee from the existing eight per cent to 16 per cent as the bars and restaurants were already suffering losses.

To register their protest, the association has called upon the bar owners to close their outlets as part of the protest against the proposed revision. The association members also took out a rally to the excise office.

According to them, the Excise department would collect a privilege fee from wine shops, bars and restaurants based on annual turnover. The department fixed the fee at five times the annual turnover, but it has now revised it to seven times.

This decision would put owners in the doldrums, resulting in losses, they said, adding that more than 1100 bars, mostly within GHMC limits, are operating across the State. The association also demanded to remove belt shops near bars and restaurants and permit rooms near wine shops.

Tags: