State Wineries and Distilleries Association has urged the State government to take over all Liquor retail operations and run them itself on par with Tamilnadu, Kerala and Delhi.
In a press release, the association President Niranjanlal Agarwal stated that the common man must get IML/ Beer at MRP and affordable rate. The government can strictly implement MRP by installing necessary CCTV cameras if required. The retail operations can be entrusted to a BPO on area wise basis covering not more than 50 to 100 outlets.
It was estimated that with increased sales volume, availability of economy range liquors and the cumulative annual growth (CAG) rate of 8 to 10 percent as recorded in the last five years, the sales volume of IML will be around 525 to 540 lakhs in the forth coming year and sales of beer will touch the 400 lakh if the government took over liquor shops.
On an estimated turnover of Rs 25,000 crores in terms of consumer prices and additional five percent margin after meeting expenses is expected to generate additional revenue of Rs 1250 crores on this count alone apart from the restructuring of duties and taxes. The total anticipated increase in government revenue will be to the tune of Rs 25,000 crores. (NSS)