Lucknow: The licence fee for retail liquor shops has been slashed by 20% compared with the last financial year in order to make commercial operations of the leftover shops financially viable for entrepreneurs. The excise department has initiated the process of the fifth round of lottery draw for 660 shops that are up for grabs across UP. Since the department is chasing a target of Rs 71,278 crore for the 26-27 fiscal year, a decision to increase the number of retail vends was taken in order to cater to the population that has moved into the developing areas on the outskirts of the key cities over the past year.Excise department officials said that in addition to the 660 shops, a proposal to add close to 400 more shops has been forwarded to the govt and accordingly the lottery draw would continue to take place in the coming months. Last year, 27,308 retail liquor vends (country liquor, beer, foreign liquor and other alcoholic beverages) were operational in UP. However, due to lack of financial viability, several shop owners did not get their outlets renewed and so far close to 27,000 licences have been issued to such vends.“The fifth phase of the lottery draw would be carried out on May 29 across the state. Details of available shops have been floated by district magistrates and the ones interested have time to get their documents prepared till May 25 to apply for the draw,” said excise commissioner, Adarsh Singh. Meanwhile, in their representation to the excise minister, existing liquor traders have put forth their demands.“Due to scorching heat, our business is taking a hit. We requested the minister to allow operations of the shop till 11pm instead of 10pm for some time as people are stepping out only in the evening. Also, we discussed an issue related to the sale of country liquor stock from retail shops,” said Devesh Jaiswal, spokesperson of liquor sellers welfare association in UP.Meanwhile, in Lucknow, 104 shops (55 country liquor, 24 model shops and 24 composite shops) would be up for grabs on May 29. The licence fee for model shops ranges between Rs 30 lakh (Wazirganj locality) and Rs 1.62 crore (Gomtinagar). The fee for composite shops varies between Rs 3.15 lakh (Kakori) and Rs 38 lakh (Madehganj).
