Pune: Manpower shortage, inability to pay excise fee hamper bar owners’ plans

PUNE: Close to 40% of bars and clubs have not reopened despite the restrictions being relaxed.
Of the restaurants that haven’t reopened, close to 20% weren’t able to pay the excise license renewal fee in order to reopen, statistics provided by the state excise department revealed.
Ganesh Shetty, president of Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers Association (PRAHA), said that the lack of manpower and inability to pay the excise fee have hindered reopening of bars. “There are around 1,800 to 2,000 bars and clubs in Pune. For many, getting back employees, who left for their homes, is an issue. Trains are not running and flight tickets are expensive. Some bar owners are trying to bring back their employees by offering them tickets. A few others want to wait and watch before they reopen. Bars are to remain closed on weekends and that is an issue for many owners. We are going to meet deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday. We hope to get permission to operate on weekends,” Shetty told TOI.
State excise superintendent Santosh Zagade said that while 1,673 bars renewed their licenses for 2021-22, around 320 have not approached them for the renewal.
Rajas Divakar, who used to run a lounge in Kothrud, said that he was not in a position to reopen business. “The excise fee needs to be paid before March 31 for the entire financial year. Last year, many owners suffered heavy losses due to the lockdown and the state government was requested to cut the fee by half, which it did. Bars and clubs reopened in late-September and October. This time, however, no such relief has been granted. Many of us have faced such huge losses that we are in no position to pay the fee to reopen the outlet,” Divakar said.
Kishor Sarpotdar, general secretary of PRAHA, said clubs and lounges wouldn’t do good business until students returned to the city. “There are many issues including staff availability, rent payment, and salaries. While bars will reopen slowly, business for lounges and clubs will remain poor as students, who frequent them have gone back home,” he said.