U’khand defends bar licences brought under service sector

DEHRADUN : Additional chief secretary Ranbir Singh on Thursday justified the Cabinet move to bring bar licences under the service sector.

Singh said the move was necessary for enchacing the revenues and also to serve guests as Uttarakhand primarily depends on the tourism industry.

The Cabinet on Wednesday gave nod for shifting bar licences from sales to service sector through an amendment in the Uttar Pradesh Excise Act 1910, which has been in force in Uttarakhand ever since its creation. The move will pave a way for the reopening of bars which were shut due to the Supreme Court orders.

However, the apex court gave relief to the nine hill districts in August from its earlier order that prohibited sale of alcohol 500m from national highways and 220m from state highways. Uttarakhand had sought parity with states Sikkim and Meghalaya which were granted relief on March 31 on the criteria that they had less than 20,000 population.

This helped re-opening of several shops close to national and state highways but still many bars were still didn’t get relief particularly in Dehradun, which contributes sustainably in the state revenues.

Uttarakhand government earns around Rs 2,000 crore annually from liquor trade has been feeling the heat due to less revenues earned this year.