Liquor traders in UP write to CM Yogi, seek opening of shops during lockdown

LUCKNOW: The Liquor Welfare Association in Uttar Pradesh has written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and sought the opening of the liquor shops during the COVID-19-induced partial lockdown in the state.

The General Secretary of the Association, Kanhaiyalal Maurya, stated that they are incurring a daily loss of over Rs 100 crore due to the closure of liquor shops in the state.

Liquor Shops:

He wrote that the shops have been shut since the UP Panchayat elections.

Maurya also said that there is no mention of the closure of liquor shops in the government's order and that the license holders have also not received any order from the Excise Department.

"This has created confusion among liquor license holders," Maurya wrote in a letter to UP CM.

He also told Yogi Adityanath that the shop owners are concerned about the fixed monthly quota and license fees.

The Liquor Welfare Association in Uttar Pradesh has also sent a letter to the state's Excise Secretary and the Commissioner of Excise.

Earlier on May 4, the liquor prices in Uttar Pradesh were increased after the state government decided to impose a 'corona cess'.

As per IANS, the prices of liquor have been increased by Rs 10-40 per bottle.

"The cess of Rs 10 has been imposed on regular-premium category liquor, Rs 20 on the super premiere, Rs 30 on scotch and Rs 40 on liquor imported from abroad," the news agency reported.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government has extended the partial 'corona curfew' in the state till May 17 morning. The Uttar Pradesh administration has decided to extend the partial curfew imposed in the state till 17 May as Covid-19 cases continue to surge. Until relaxation of the orders, all shops and establishments are required to remain closed.

COVID in UP:

Uttar Pradesh is one of the states which has been severely affected by the second wave of coronavirus in India. On Monday, 21,331 new coronavirus cases have been found in Uttar Pradesh with 278 more fatalities. A total of 29,709 people recovered from coronavirus in the past 24 hours. At present there are 2,25,271 active cases in the state.

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