The Trinamool Congress government has not issued a single licence for the sale of “foreign liquor” (both Indian-made and liquor from overseas) over the past two years, though it has not debarred setting up of bottling plants and distilleries, the State’s Finance Minister Amit Mitra said in the State Assembly here on Tuesday.
Responding to a question in the State Assembly, he said 2,243 licences were issued by the State government to sell “foreign liquor”, out of which 2,136 shops are functioning.
There are 1,783 shops selling country-made liquor of which the State government provided seven licenses over the past two years, said Mr. Mitra, adding that the decision was taken as per directives of the High Court.
Steps to give more licenses to bottling plants and distilleries have been taken to ensure that adequate supply of liquor is maintained, he said. Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Surjya Kanta Mishra, asked whether the State government is pursuing a policy not to issue licenses for selling liquor.
