Private players to sell liquor in Jharkhand from April 1

Ranchi: Ending all confusion the state government has finally decided that from April 1 private players would be selling liquor in the state. The election commission has also approved the proposal of the state government. The state government has plans to open 1644 liquor shops. 

The excise department has formed 799 groups of shops which include foreign liquor shops, country-made liquor shops and composite liquor shops. From April 1 the people who have been selected in the first round of lottery which was done on March 5 will be opening their shops. Director of the excise department Bhor Singh Yadav said that the department has commenced its process of the second round of lottery. 

The department has decided that liquor shops will be running from 11 am in the morning to 11 pm in the night while in case the shop owner is found selling liquor at more price than the MRP than their license would be cancelled. Incase liqour has to be served in sitting area than it should have area of 600 square feet and should also have arrangements of AC and clean drinking water.

The licence fee for serving liquor in sitting area has been increased by 20 pc while fee for the composite shop has been increased by 10 pc. The department has this year set a target to earn Rs 1558 crore from liquor sell. Every year the licence will also be renewed for the liquor shops.