New excise policy draft moots liquor sale in malls

The Jharkhand government, in its new state excise policy draft, has proposed opening shopping malls, marketing centres, and departmental stores for setting up liquor shops and has uploaded it on the state excise department website for public objections and suggestions, people familiar with the developments said on Monday.

- Debashish Sarkar

JAMSHEDPUR: The Jharkhand government, in its new state excise policy draft, has proposed opening shopping malls, marketing centres, and departmental stores for setting up liquor shops and has uploaded it on the state excise department website for public objections and suggestions, people familiar with the developments said on Monday.

The state excise department has sought public objections and suggestions on its new excise policy, a copy of which is with HT, by uploading it on the website on February 8 and publishing advertisements on February 9. As per a government notification, the last date for submission of objections and suggestions is February 16, while the notification of allotment of liquor shops through the lottery system has been fixed for February 20. The new policy will come into effect on April 1, after due consultation with the state revenue board and the legal department.