Ranchi: The state government will hire salesmen on daily wages to sell liquor. In those districts of the state where placement agency has not been selected, retail sale of liquor will be done by appointing salesmen on daily wages. The Excise Department has prepared a proposal related to this and sent it to the Cabinet for approval. The proposal states that retail product shops are operated in the state through Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL). JSBCL is retailing liquor in shops in various districts of the state through placement agency.
But in many districts the process of selection of placement agency has not been completed. Which is affecting the revenue received by the state government from the sale of liquor. Till the placement agency is selected in the interest of revenue, under emergency arrangement, retail shops will be operated in those districts by obtaining the services of vendors as daily wages. For this, Cabinet’s consent will be taken to make necessary amendments in Jharkhand Excise Rules 2022. The proposal is likely to be approved in the cabinet meeting to be held on Thursday.
There has been a decline in revenue
The revenue from liquor in Jharkhand has decreased by about Rs 50 crore in the last four months. Retail liquor is being sold under the new system from May 1 this year. It was decided to give the responsibility of selling retail liquor to the new agency from May 1. The government gave the responsibility of selling retail liquor to JSBCL till the placement agency is selected to sell retail liquor. In May, placement agency could be selected to sell retail liquor in five districts. When retail liquor was sold by JSBCL in 19 districts, the government got a revenue of Rs 200 crore.