In the wake of substantial reduction in its work load, the Madhya Pradesh State Agriculture Development Corporation plans to enter the liquor business by operating wine shops. | |
| With the decontrol of urea, which was earlier being channelled through the corporation, pressure of work had come down and the corporation had evinced interest to run the wine shops not auctioned and being run by the government, official sources said. |
| |
| According to sources, the corporation's proposal is under the government's consideration and after completion of formalities, the remaining shops may be given to the corporation. |
| |
| There are 2,500 country liquor shops and 583 foreign liquor shops in the state. Of this, 482 country liquor shops and 148 foreign shops could not be auctioned till April 1. |
| |
| The auction value of these shops is estimated at around Rs 283.22 crore. |
| |
| The state government had received a revenue of Rs 864 crore from the excise department last year, while the revenue target for the current year had been set at Rs 968 crore, said an official. |
| |
| Under the new excise policy, the state government expects a Rs 104 crore rise in revenue from liquor business. To implement the new policy, state government faced several problems following objections raised by the Election Commission in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections. |
| |
| The state government has authorised the excise commission to allot remaining shops directly to the persons who apply after getting licence and completing formalities. The remaining wine shops will be allotted on the "first come, first serve" basis. |
| |
|
| |
