Guwahati: The Delhi government has decided to extend the Excise Policy 2021–2022 In order to avoid reverting to the previous excise system, according to sources quoted in an ANI report.
According to the government, the former excise policy, which was in place until November 16, 2021, will return for a period of six months starting on September 1, 2022, and the licences whose terms were set to expire on July 31 will now be valid for an additional month.
Liquor was sold by both government and private vendors under the previous government policy, which was converted to private vendors only under the current policy. However, following objections by the BJP’s Opposition in Delhi, the government changed its approach, according to the report.
The administration took action after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena suggested a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the policy.
Liquor will be sold only through government-run shops from August 1.
The government is considering extending the licences’ terms for one more month, to August 31, 2022, while they were set to expire on July 31, 2022.
“Considering the tenure of existing licenses, expiring on July 31, 2022, and to maintain the confidence of people at large in the administration, the GNCTD has extended the existing licenses for a month till August 31, 2022, for the transition to take effect,” the GNCTD sources said.
“Seized of the fact that the Excise Policy 2021-22 is not able to achieve the desired objectives of fetching greater revenues as envisaged and projected, and owing to the fact that the said policy has been flagged with many an issue that is under detailed examination/investigation by agencies, the Government of National Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has decided to revert to the old policy (prevalent till 16th November 2021) for a period of six months with effect from September 1, 2022,” added the sources.