Delhi may see only three dry days a year

The government also wants to increase the cost of a P10 permit, needed to serve alcohol at a private party at a banquet or a farmhouse, to Rs 15,000.

In another significant step, reportedly proposed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself, permission from the mohalla sabha concerned will be mandatory for setting up a liquor shop in any area.

The government has also proposed that the power to grant licences to eateries be taken away from Delhi Police and given to its food and supplies department.

The restriction on setting up liquor shops near major educational institutes, religious places and hospitals may also be lifted for “restaurants in air-conditioned shopping malls”.

The measures are aimed at generating more revenue for the Delhi government, said senior officials. “We need revenue for the development of the city, and increasing the licence fee will help us earn more revenue. We are providing more options to restaurants and bars… we are committed towards eliminating licence raj and have introduced an online system for granting these licences,” said a senior official.

Welcoming the proposed ‘liberalisation’ of excise policy, Riyaaz Amlani, president of National Restaurant Association of India, said, “We spoke to government officials… we are satisfied with the proposed measures but a lot more needs to be done.”