Liquor shops must obtain housing societies’ consent: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said that the retail outlets of both foreign liquor and country liquor would be required to obtain consent from registered housing societies before commencing operations.

“This permission from registered societies will now be compulsory for both categories of liquor shops. The policy must be enforced uniformly throughout Maharashtra,” Pawar informed the Assembly during Question Hour.

He was responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap, who had sought the cancellation of licences of liquor shops operating in the Chinchwad–Kalewadi area of Pune district.

During the discussion, Jagtap, who represents Chinchwad in the Assembly, said that a shop run by Vikrant Wine in Sahyadri Society had begun operations in violation of norms. He said the building was incomplete when permission was granted and that the licence had been issued on the basis of incomplete documents. He demanded action against those responsible.