CM assures partial rollback in liquor fees
PTI, PANAJI | 30 March 2012 13:32 IST
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has assured to partially rollback the hike proposed in the state budget in the license fees for liquor warehouses.
President of All Goa liquor Traders Association Dattaprasad Naik told PTI that the chief minister has assured partial withdrawal of the licence fees for the non-bonded warehouses which are typically used for storing duty-paid liquor.
The association has around 1,000 members under its umbrella.
If the assurance materialises into action, it will benefit more than 2,000 traders across the state, he said.
Parrikar's proposal to raise the annual licence fees for all warehouses from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 caused discontent among the traders in the coastal state which is known for low-cost booze.
Naik, however, clarified that the fee structure for the bonded warehouses, which are usually run by the liquor companies and big-time traders, will remain the same.
Goa government in the budget presented on March 26 had proposed to hike the Value Added Tax (VAT) on the liquor from 20 percent to 22 percent resulting into increase in liquor prices.
The proposed raise in the fees for warehouses was feared to be affecting small-time traders.
Liquor is killing the youngster after they get addicted to it...It increases accidents on roads. It creates turmoil in the society after the addicts start abusing the neighbours...All these are happening in a small village like Loliem and definitely will be happening elsewhere....Best option is to take the liquor beyond the reach of the common man and use it as an effective tool to mop up resources to fund the growth of infrastructure....
The title of this article is misguiding.There is is a vast difference in rollback in liquor fees and rollback on license fees for liquor warehouses.I feel that you are deliberately doing this to misguide readers.I request you to avoid such mistakes in future.
Regards