HYDERABAD: With the Centre’s decision to allow liquor shops in all zones with restrictions such as social distancing, the Telangana government is mulling allowing liquor shops in green zones. The state Cabinet which is meeting on May 5 is likely to take a decision on the matter.
While the Centre has put nine districts in green zone where no new confirmed coronavirus positive cases have been reported in the past 21 days the state government announced that 22 of the 33 districts have had zero positive cases for the past two weeks.
“Though the Centre has allowed shops in orange and in red zones, the Telangana government does not want to allow any activity in red zones or hotspots,” a senior official of the state government said. As per the Centre’s notification, six districts in Telangana have been labelled red zone, including Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri.
A couple of weeks ago a few officials had pushed for liquor shops to be permitted to stay open for two hours a day, but chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao turned down the proposal.
Telangana Wine Dealers’ Association, too, did not approve the proposal as it is difficult to maintain social distance at shops. Over and above this, each shop has to pay a licence fee of Rs 35,000 to the government each day, which they may not be able to make in just two hours.
“If the government takes a decision on May 5 to permit liquor shops in green zones, we will obey the order. But if a liquor depot is located in red zone, how can stock be supplied to shops? Many breweries and distilleries are located in red zone districts such as Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal district. The government should ensure smooth movement of supplies,” Telangana Wine Dealers’ Association president D Venkateshwara Rao said.
While the Centre has put nine districts in green zone where no new confirmed coronavirus positive cases have been reported in the past 21 days the state government announced that 22 of the 33 districts have had zero positive cases for the past two weeks.
“Though the Centre has allowed shops in orange and in red zones, the Telangana government does not want to allow any activity in red zones or hotspots,” a senior official of the state government said. As per the Centre’s notification, six districts in Telangana have been labelled red zone, including Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri.
A couple of weeks ago a few officials had pushed for liquor shops to be permitted to stay open for two hours a day, but chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao turned down the proposal.
Telangana Wine Dealers’ Association, too, did not approve the proposal as it is difficult to maintain social distance at shops. Over and above this, each shop has to pay a licence fee of Rs 35,000 to the government each day, which they may not be able to make in just two hours.
“If the government takes a decision on May 5 to permit liquor shops in green zones, we will obey the order. But if a liquor depot is located in red zone, how can stock be supplied to shops? Many breweries and distilleries are located in red zone districts such as Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal district. The government should ensure smooth movement of supplies,” Telangana Wine Dealers’ Association president D Venkateshwara Rao said.
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