Amarinder approves Punjab Excise Policy; contractors say ready to open liquor vends from today

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 13

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has approved the Excise Policy, 2020-21.

The decision follows the cabinet on Monday authorising the Chief Minister to decide on the tweaked amendments in the policy.

It is learnt that the policy was approved on Tuesday evening, before Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh was divested of the additional charge of excise and taxation, after being part of a row over conflict of interest over his son’s stake in liquor business.

Apart from allowing 36 business days lost due to the curfew, the contractors have been allowed compensation for nine days due to the imposition of the lockdown on March 22.

Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said the option of allowing home delivery had been left to the contractors. In case of Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib, where all liquor vends are open, the vend operators have opted for no door-to-door delivery.

With the policy approved, liquor contractors said they were ready to open liquor vends from today itself.

Of the 5,800 liquor vends, those in Mohali and parts of Ropar were opened on May 7, while contractors who either opted for a renewal of licence or had taken fresh contracts in other districts had chosen to stay away.