UT excise policy generates mixed reaction

The association had raised a number of concerns with the UT Administration before the policy was announced.

Kamaljeet S Dhillon,another patron of the association said that he was not satisfied with the policy. He said,“The Administration should have prepared the policy by February. At this point we have no option of moving to any other State. The reserve price for the modern liquor shops has been increased to rs 36 lakh from Rs 22 lakh earlier. It is a steep hike. Who would opt for a modern liquor shop? The concept is being ruined.”

The councillors of the Municipal Corporation have expressed discontent at the policy. During a House Meet last year,the councillors had passed a resolution stating that liquor vends would not be allowed on municipal land. They had further said that with the V-3 roads also being transferred to the MC,no vends would be allowed there also. However,the Administration has paid no heed to the resolution.

Councillor Devinder Singh Babla says,“The resolution of the House has no sanctity. When the House had passed a resolution that the no liquor vends would operate on MC land,the Administration should have given it some consideration. There are liquor vends at every entry point of the city that present an ugly picture to the visitors.”

Another councillor Kamlesh opined that the when the land belongs to the Municipal Corporation,the decision to allow the vends to operate should also be the civic body’s. “The residents are not in favour of such a large number of liquor vends in the city. This is why the House had passed a resolution to stop these. However,the Administration has not bothered to consider the resolution,” she says.

Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh,meanwhile said that the civic body could only convey the sentiments of the people to the Administration. To consider these is up to the Administration. He added that the Administration seems more bothered about the revenue collection rather than the beauty of the city.