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Guzzlers stand in queue to buy liquor
It’s tough time for guzzlers as most of the liquor shops and bars are remained closed in the district. The bars are to be reopened from Monday onwards, but the norms framed by the government have become hurdle to open the bar shops. Now, only one bar and two three wine shops were opened in Vizianagaram town.
Vizianagaram: It’s tough time for guzzlers as most of the liquor shops and bars are remained closed in the district. The bars are to be reopened from Monday onwards, but the norms framed by the government have become hurdle to open the bar shops. Now, only one bar and two three wine shops were opened in Vizianagaram town.
Hence, guzzlers are forced to stand in a queue to buy liquor. Interestingly, police personnel were deployed at these shops to control the mob.
The new excise policy was imposed from July 1 but still the shops are not being opened. Out of 18 shops only one bar in Vizianagaram was opened so far.
Liquor traders are waiting for relaxation of norms in establishing their shops. As per the norms framed by the government no shop should be 200 metres away from the national highways and bar and restaurants should have minimum distance of 100 metres from temples, schools, hospitals and other holy places.
Now the bar owners are searching loopholes to reopen their bars as they spent lakhs of rupees on licence fee.They have been waiting for the de-notification of some towns from the tough norms.
The bar owners and liquor shop owners are expecting that Vizianagaram town may be given relaxation from norms as the national highway is passing through this town. Out of 210 liquor shops, licences were issued only for 90 shops so far and around 30 shops are opened as of now.
On average, 18 shops in the town used to sell liquor worth Rs 18 to Rs 20 Lakh per day but now except Janapriya Bar, rest of them were closed as the norms are not allowing them to open A Vijay, owner of Babu Bar, said: “We have been running the bar for the past 15 years but now the norms are obstructing us to open it. Our bar is just 70 metres away from a hospital and the excise staff is not allowing us to open it.”
A Sambhu Prasad, superintendent of excise and prohibition, said: “We won’t allow violation of norms. We are strictly implementing the rules and regulations framed by the government. Of course, they are income providers for the government but they should follow the norms. No bar, liquor shop is permitted to open unless they meet the norms framed by the government.
By koppara gandhi
