88 liquor vends find no takers in Moga

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, March 24

The Excise and Taxation Department has auctioned 140 PML and 40 IMFL liquor vends in Moga district expecting to earn a revenue of Rs 104.23 crore in 2019-2020. This will be approximately 16 per cent higher than that in the current financial year. The department has also earned Rs 1.46 crore as application fee.

However, the department could not sell at least 88 liquor vends, probably due to higher rates. No application was received for five groups — Dharamkot Circle (Urban) Group 1 and 2, Nihal Singh Wala Circle (Urban) Group 1, 2 and 3.

The department invited applications again but no one has responded.

Meanwhile, liquor contractors said keeping in view the revenue increase, the market rates of liquor, wine and beer are likely to increase by at least 15 to 20 per cent for financial viability. All liquor vends have been allotted to existing contractors with changes in locations.

Insiders in the business said the Congress government may have to pay a “heavy price” in the election year due to high rates of liquor. The liquor rates in Moga district were already higher than those in other districts this financial year.

This was also a major political issue in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress candidate got the third position in the LS elections from Faridkot and was not even in the fight. Moga district falls under this reserved constituency. Aam Aadmi Party candidate Prof Sadhu Singh defeated Paramjit Kaur Gulshan of the Akali Dal by a margin of 1,72,000 votes.

Navdip Singh Sangha, spokesman for AAP, who is also in the liquor business, said higher rates of liquor due to auction at 16-per cent increase will be a major issue in the Lok Sabha elections. “It will dampen the spirits of the people,” he said. It was due to higher rates that the smuggling of liquor increased by about 200 per cent this year as compared to the previous financial year.

36K litres spurious liquor seized  

Phillaur: The police have unearthed a racket involved in preparing illicit liquor and seized 36,600 litres of 'lahan' (hooch). Davinder Singh Attri, DSP, said a police party along with Excise and Taxation Officer Davinder Pannu raided a place near Bilga and found six persons involved in preparing illicit liquor. The accused, identified as Pritam Singh, Chaman, Bittu, Shinda, Harjinder Singh and Baljinder Singh, however, managed to escape from the spot. A case has been registered under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. OC