Liquor rate hike: Hotel assn chief meets ACS

Ludhiana: In a glimmer of hope for hotels, bars, restaurants and marriage palace owners who have been reeling under unofficial hike in rates of liquor by some contractors, additional chief secretary (ACS) to Punjab chief minister A Venu Prasad has assured the hospitality industry that no one will be allowed to increase the rates against the norms, and strict action will be taken in case anyone is found doing so.
The ACS gave this assurance to the industry during a meeting with president of the hotel and restaurant association Amarveer Singh who took up this issue with him.
Amarveer said, “The ACS has assured me that no rate hike will take place as nothing has been ordered by the excise department or government. He also said that if anyone is found flouting the rules, strict action will be taken against such persons.”
Notably, a few days back, several liquor contractors in the city had issued a new rate list of liquor applicable from November 1. The rates had been increased by 25 to 30% and several other conditions were also imposed on the hospitality industry. The aggrieved businessmen had approached the excise department on this issue which in turn had cleared that it had not authorised the contractors to hike rates.