Vends open in Haryana, price hike keeps customers away

CHANDIGARH/AMBALA/ROHTAK/HISAR: Contrary to expectations, a very poor turnout was witnessed at liquor shops that opened in Haryana on Wednesday after around one-and-a-half months of lockdown.

While deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday had announced that proper barricading outside the liquor shops would be done to maintain the crowd, no such arrangements were seen outside any liquor vends. Even at the most of places in the state, the sale of liquor started in the afternoon as against the prescribed starting time of 7am.
Unlike Delhi, Nainital and other parts of the country where people had gathered in huge number to get liquor, not a single place in Haryana witnessed such gathering. While the Haryana government had increased Rs 5 to 50 per bottle in its revised excise policy announced on Tuesday evening, the rate of liquor by the contractors were increased from Rs 50 to 700 per bottle (depending on the brand and quality). Even on beer, a sharp increase of Rs 50 to 70 per bottle was witnessed in the rate list shown by the contractors in various districts.
Officials of the excise department said that there is no capping on the price on which the liquor is sold by the contractors as the department only prescribed a minimum retail price of the liquor and contractors cannot sell below that price. However, instructions are issued to the deputy excise and taxation commissioners of the districts concerned to ensure that no excessive charges are taken by the liquor vends.
In Ambala, a large number of people return empty handed from liquor shops as they did not get the desired brand.
As per the information, a very few brands were available with the vendors.
Raman Aggarwal, a liquor contractor, said, "As our stock was not stored at the vends, it will take some time to settle all the things as per guidelines of the state government. I have contracts in Ambala and Kurukshetra districts, but we could start sale in Ambala only."
"We have increased the rate of liquor ranging from Rs 30-50 as per quality, due to Covid-19 cess imposed by the state government. New rates will be decided once the stock starts to arrive from companies. As of now L1 stock is being cleared."
The contractors said, "The state government should ensure implementation of social distancing outside the liquor vends, as it is not possible for the contractors to control the crowd."
Ambala DC Ashok Kumar constituted a team to monitor liquor supply in Ambala district. DC Ashok instructed SP Abhishek Jorwal and DETC NK Grewal to work jointly to monitor the four distilleries located in the district, a beer factory as well as both bottling plants. A team under leadership of Ambala SP has been formed for this task.
Kumar said, "There are three godowns of L1 and four of L-13 categories in Ambala. I have instructed officials to check all the godowns. We will also set up 24-hour nakas to check illegal liquor supply wherever necessary."
In Rohtak district, the liquor vends did not witness many buyers. Liquor vend operators said they did not have sufficient stock in place. The cops remained on duty to maintain law and order situation.
In Hisar too, the contractors did not get much response on the opening day.