EC nod for allotment of liquor vends

Election Commission of India has given its nod to the Punjab government to go ahead with the allotment of liquor vends, a senior official said today.
"Election Commission of India has given clearance to the Punjab government to proceed with the allotment of liquor vends in the state," State Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma said.
Stating that the state government received "unprecedented" response for liquor vends, Verma said the department received Rs 267 crore as application money which was Rs 70 crore more than what it received last year.
This year, the government fixed an ambitious target of Rs 250 crore towards application money.

Verma said that one of the main reasons behind the increase in application money was the decision of the department to bring in greater transparency by roping in banks.
The excise and taxation department authorised State Bank of Patiala, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank to collect applications on its behalf.
Verma said that sufficient number of applications had been received for all the 435 groups, meaning thereby that all the liquor vends would be sold in one go.
Verma said that against a total revenue of Rs 3,950 crore during 2013-14, revenue of Rs 4,700 crores was expected during the 2014-15, which is an increase of Rs 750 crore.