SRINAGAR: After nearly three decades, the J&K administration is going to open liquor sale points at different locations in the Kashmir valley, reported The Tribune.
The Excise Department has identified 183 new locations, 116 in Jammu and 67 in the Kashmir valley for sale of liquor, said the report.
According to an official document, the Excise Department has conducted a survey in the exercise of the powers under rule 28 of J&K Liquor and License Rules 1984 and Section 4 (B) of the Excise Act and identified these locations for the opening of new sale points.
Finance department has clarified.Urge everyone not to believe any rumours or half baked news @diprjk https://t.co/6YAH322FCo
— Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) June 21, 2020
As per the official letter no. EC/Exc/Sub-vend/663, the Excise Department has sought necessary approval to proceed further in this matter.
According to the report, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had floated a tender for a duty-paid liquor shop at the Srinagar airport in the year 2017. Fearing reaction, the then PDP-BJP government had rejected the proposal.
According to official data of the Excise Department, out of total 224 wine shops in J&K, 220 shops are in Jammu province.
In Jammu district, there are 135 liquor shops but only a dozen of them have been allowed to open.
Among the 10 districts of Kashmir valley, only Srinagar has four shops. These shops are running in ‘safer zones’.
