City to get seven new liquor vends

GURGAON: Considering the high rate of consumption of Indian manufactured foreign liquor (IMFL) in Gurgaon, the excise department has increased the number of such vends from 166 to 173 while the overall figure remains unchanged at the state level. At the pan-state level, the excise department plans to auction 3,500 vends, out of which 2,265 vends would be of country liquor and 1,235 would be of IMFL.The process of auctioning would be over in the first fortnight.Officials in the excise department said that the number of country liquor vends in Gurgaon would remain the same at 143 as that of the last financial year. <br /><br /> They added that the location of vends was being finalized before the list could be made public so that those seeking licences make an informed decision while submitting their bids. The department expects huge auction fee from outlets which would be located close to the upscale market complexes like Galleria and those on MG Road.Sources said that while deciding the location of vends, locals’ concern could also be considered. Recently, the municipal commissioner had also written to the corporation councillors to submit their views and concerns about the location of vends in their localities.In recent years, there have been several instances of residents opposing the location of such outlets close to residential areas. Residents often allege that the customers coming to buy liquor often turn the area outside the liquor shop into a pub-like place, and create nuisance.<ep,1>Interestingly, in the 2012-13 excise policy, the department has favoured location of liquor vends in market complexes. <br /><br /> The tendering process in Gurgaon would start in districts like Rewari, Narnaul, Sirsa, Sonepat, Panipat and Ambala. The sealed tenders would be opened on March 9 at the district headquarters. Like that of the previous year, the opening of tenders would be recorded on CCTV cameras and the entire tender process would be in camera.Meanwhile, on Monday, the excise and taxation department conducted a draw of lots to finalize vends of reserved categories in Narnaul district. The vends are for country liquor and IMFL. There were 48 groups of 142 retail liquor vends in the district. <br /><br /> As per the new excise policy, 10% of the total vends have been reserved for SCs and 5% for backward classes-A categories. Three groups had been reserved for SCs and two for backward class-A out of total 31 groups of country liquor. The remaining groups were in the general category. Similarly, out of 17 groups of IMFL in the district, two had been kept reserved for SCs and one for backward class-A. As many as 14 groups were in the general category. </ep,1>