Is K'taka mulling to auction defunct excise licences?

UNDER pressure to scale up revenue collection and mobilise resources, the state government is reportedly mulling auctioning defunct CL-2 (retail liquor shops) and 11-C (government-owned Mysore Sales International Limited retail outlets) licences, said sources.

- BALA CHAUHAN @Bengaluru

"There are around 200 CL2 licences and 263 MSIL licences in the state, which are lying defunct. The government is taking a call on these licences and may think of auctioning them. No decision has, however, been taken in this regard so far," added the sources.

In Karnataka, new CL-2 and CL-9 (bars & restaurants) licences were issued in 1992. The MSIL licences were issued in two batches — in 2009 and 2016 and thereafter there was a freeze on these licences.

In the absence of new fresh licences (CL-2, CL-9), the old ones have become the proverbial golden geese for the original licencee.