Govt issues GR for lifting liquor ban in Chanda

Chandrapur: The home department on Tuesday issued the government resolution (GR) detailing the guidelines for lifting of liquor ban in Chandrapur. The state excise department officials said liquor sales would start again in Chandrapur soon after the renewal process of liquor licenses in Chandrapur is completed.
The state cabinet had decided to lift the liquor ban in Chandrapur in its meeting on May 27. People here were eagerly awaiting the GR since then. The GR issued on Tuesday states that the previous liquor licenses active in Chandrapur before the ban can be renewed at the same place on ‘as is, where is’ basis by depositing renewal fees and fulfilling necessary formalities.
The excise commissioner and Chandrapur collector have been directed to handle the renewal process through single window scheme following the related regulations. In case the place where earlier liquor license was active is not available, or there is a need to transfer licenses from other districts to Chandrapur, excise department has been directed to take immediate action for transfer of license. The GR also directs the state excise commissioner to issue necessary guidelines to complete the renewal process of the old licenses in speedy, easy and transparent manner in Chandrapur.
“State home department has issued a GR for lifting of prohibition in Chandrapur. We are expecting some guidelines from state excise commissioner office and would start the process of renewal of liquor licenses soon after they are received,” said excise superintendent, Sagar Domkar. State excise office here is going to gather all the applications and related document from liquor businessmen whose licenses were suspended after liquor ban in Chandrapur in 2015. They will forward them to collector for approval after necessary scrutiny, he added.
Liquor trader Gurjitsingh Gadhok claimed they are ready with all necessary documents and NOCs, and would apply for renewal for their suspended licenses soon after excise office gives a nod. Another liquor shop owner Anup Poreddiwar urged the administration to keep the renewal process simple and offer single window scheme to lessen the hassles in the renewal process. Now that GR has been issued, liquor sale will formally start in Chandrapur as soon as license renewal formalities are completed with the administration, he said.