Faridkot, March 30, 2017: (By Devanand Sharma) For the first time, there may not be any sale of liquor in Faridkot on the opening day of the fiscal year 2017-18.
The reason: not a single liquor shop on offer for a new licence went under hammer till the expiry of the official deadline.
In absence of new licences, the old shops allotted during fiscal year 2016-17 won’t have legal way of selling liquor. It looks like going to be an unofficial dry day of sorts, commented an excise department official.
Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO), Faridkot, Kulwinder Verma said that in accordance with the new liquor policy, the department would invite tenders offering 5 percent discount to attract prospective licensees.
Not a single applicant turned up in the district to participate in the draw of lots on Thursday at a local wedding hall hired specially for the purpose.
The department had extended the last date of receiving the applications to March 30 as none applied till March 27, the originally fixed last date for the purpose. The officials expected someone may apply online but that hope also dashed.
As many as 186 shops were offered for auction in current financial year 2017-18 as compared to 202 allotted previous year. The revenue target too was reduced to Rs 96.23 crore as compared to Rs 113 crore last year.
Some liquor contractors attributed the total lack of business interest shown by applicants to lacunae in the new policy, ban on shops along highways, political interference and black marketing.
The venue of auction wears a deserted look in Faridkot as no applicant turned up.