Manpreet visits WB, renews bid for state liquor corporation

CHANDIGARH:Renewing his bid for bringing Punjab’s lucrative liquor business under state control, Punjab finance minister Manpreet Badal studied the model of West Bengal during his two-day visit that concluded on Friday.

The Mamta Banerjee government had last year got into wholesale liquor distribution to end the monopoly of private wholesalers by forming its own liquor corporation.

“We have to do our study and present the case before the cabinet on how a change in policy will impact state finances in a positive way.

Once approved by the CM and cabinet, the same will he incorporated in the new excise policy for next year,” Manpreet told HT.

Punjab officials accompanying Manpreet also visited the facilities of West Bengal.

Earlier, the government had studied models of Tamil Nadu and Kerala which also control the retail business of liquor.

But the state now is mulling being the sole wholesaler of liquor and letting retail trade continue in private hands.

The move is aimed at ending the monopoly of Punjab’s powerful liquor lobby, besides increasing excise collection by at least Rs 3,000 crore.

The idea was mooted last year also but faced resistance from the liquor lobby, which also has politicians from both ruling as well as opposition.