MP govt rolls back decision to sell IMFL at 'desi' liquor shops

Succumbing to pressure from colleagues and party heavyweights, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday took a u-turn and said his government will reconsider the decision of allowing sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) at the 'desi' liquor shops. 'Desi' liquor shops are only allowed to sell country-made liquor.

"We will reconsider the decision," Chouhan said. However, senior officials in commercial tax department said, "the cabinet decision has yet not come into effect as no official communication has been made in this regard."

In a recent cabinet meeting, Chouhan had faced protest from his cabinet colleagues, though he allowed the sale of IFML at 'desi' liquor shops. Also, members of main opposition Congress have flayed the decisions.

Both, the BJP and Chouhan had made repeated promises on various occasions, including their poll manifesto, that there will be no new liquor shop in the state.

State excise commissioner had come up with its liquor policy today and pronounced 50 per cent increase in the total value of all country-made liquor shops for fixing its reserve price.

Though no new liquor shop is allowed in any of the districts, all country-liquor shops have been allowed to sell IFML.

State allow Desi shop in an area where population is 5000 or more. Officials had put logic that it was impractical to assume that no IFML is consumed in an area where population is 5000. "It is in fact a direct loss of revenue to the government," said a senior official.

Madhya Pradesh earned a total of Rs 3,545 crore as excise revenue during 2012-13 which went up to Rs 4,220 crore in 2013-14.