Home delivery of liquor allowed in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government has allowed home delivery of liquor in the state through online sale during the ongoing coronavirus-enforced lockdown, officials said on Sunday.

The opposition BJP in the state criticised the ruling Congress over the decision, claiming it seems the government's priority was to provide liquor to people instead of medical facilities during the pandemic.

The state commercial taxes dept in an order on Saturday gave permission to the excise commissioner to allow home delivery of liquor through online orders, officials said. During the lockdown, liquor shops are not allowed to open in the state. “To curb illegal manufacturing, sale, transportation and possession of liquor during the lockdown period, permission has been granted for its home delivery through online orders from Monday," an official from the excise department said. 9,120 new cases, 189 deaths Chhattisgarh’s count rose to 8,51,476 on Sunday with the addition of 9,120 cases, while the death toll went up by 189 to 10,570, an official said.

The number of recoveries reached 7,14,359 after 370 patients were discharged, while 12,440 others completed their home isolation during the day. The number of cases in the state stands at 1,26,547, the official said.

The worst-hit Raipur and Durg districts saw 392 and 294 cases on Sunday respectively. While the infection count of Raipur has reached 1,49,226, including 2,807 deaths, Durg’s caseload rose to 91,892.