Hyderabad, August 03: For devotees of Bacchus, here is some good news. The number of bars in Hyderabad is going up by about 100. As it is, there are already 400!
The new development will be the result of a new policy the state government unveiled here on Monday. Babus claim it is intended to bring down the number of bars. Maybe it is true in respect of other parts of the state but not in Hyderabad. Even in the rest of the State, their number might increase by about 50 to 60.
Political parties are already up in arms. Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu demanded withdrawal of the GO and said, “The government is trying to make everyone an alcoholic. We oppose it tooth and nail.” Pointing out that liquor business had touched Rs 45,000 crore in the state, he accused the government of allowing this to generate an additional revenue of Rs 16,000 Rs17,000 crore by way of taxes every year. The CPM and the PRP also rapped the government over its new policy. Till now, there is no criterion for issuing liquor licences. Permits used to be issued liberally to whoever approached the government. However, under the new policy, eligibility for opening a new bar in any municipality/municipal corporation will be based on the population as per the 2001 census.
In municipal areas with a population of up to three lakh, one bar will be allowed for every 30,000 people. If the population is between three lakh and seven lakh, one bar will be allowed for every 20,000. In corporations where the population is more than seven lakh, one bar can be opened for every 12,000.
One retail liquor shop can be opened for every 10,000 people in urban areas with a population of up to 50,000, one for every 15,000 where population is between 50,000 and seven lakh and one shop will be allowed for every 16,000 where the population is more than seven lakh.
–Agencies