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More IMFL outlets in State soon

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 18. In view of the fact that there was a short supply of around 20 million litres of liquor in the State, the Government proposes to sanction more foreign liquor retail outlets and toddy shops in the near future.

Announcing this in the State Assembly during question hour today, the Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan, said that the proposal was to grant permits to set up around 50 new shops in addition to the existing 295, in different parts of the State. In places where toddy was available more toddy shops would also be sanctioned.

After the UDF Government came to power 34 fresh bar licences have been issued and two renewed. The question of enhancing the bar licence fee, which was Rs.15 lakhs, was not under the consideration of the Government, at the moment. There was also a proposal to set up a liquor shop each in all the panchayats of the State. The Minister, however, claimed that the UDF Government had not made any changes in the abkari policy of the previous LDF Government.

It was the policy of the Government to make available good quality liquor, through the retail outlets.

The crackdown on illicit liquor had resulted in a boosting of sales to the extent of one lakh more bottles per month, for the Beverages Corporation. The bottles sold through the Corporation would have hologram stickers on them to ensure purity and quality of liquor, the Minister said.

There was no move to lift the arrack ban now in force in the State, nor to auction toddy shops on excise range basis. Toddy shops would be allowed to remain open even on the first day of the month.

The number of toddy shops in the State has been reduced to 4,000 from 6,000, Mr. Sankaranarayanan said in reply to another set of questions.

The Government was yet to receive a sum of Rs. 248.40 crores towards abkari fees from contractors.

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