66 private liquor shops to reopen on Odd-Even basis

ACCORDING TO official, 66 private liquor stores have so far complied with the government’s order and they have been given permission to reopen. They have been allowed to operate from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm. However, liquor shops in malls will remain closed.

Delhi government’s excise department, on Friday, allowed 66 private liquor shops to reopen but asked the owners to follow the odd-even rule, an official said.

The official said that only 66 private liquor stores have so far complied with the government’s order and they have been given permission to reopen. They have been allowed to operate from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm.

However, liquor shops in malls will remain closed in accordance with the government’s order. Of 863 liquor shops in Delhi, 475 are run by four government corporations — Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation, and Delhi Consumer’s Cooperative Wholesale Store — while 389 are owned by private individuals.

Of these 389, about 150 are located in shopping malls and not allowed to open till May 31 when the fourth phase of lockdown ends.

Meanwhile, in just 15 days of imposing the “special corona fee” on liquor, the Delhi government has earned over `110 crore from the cess and is expecting even more in the coming days with the opening up of more shops.

According to data received from the Delhi Excise department, while the earning was about Rs 55 crore till May 12, the “special corona fee” collection went up to `70 crore by May 15.

By May 21, the collection of the fee on state liquor rose to about `110 crore.