GUWAHATI: The Kamrup (Metro) District Administration has floated tenders for 29 liquor shops in various places in Guwahati.
A senior official of the Excise Department talking to G Plus said, “A survey was conducted in every district of the state for identifying where liquor is still sold illegally,” adding that accordingly list of areas were decided where liquor shops need to be opened up so that illegal liquor sale do not happen and government do not lose revenue.
In Guwahati 33 such areas were identified from where tenders are floated for 29 liquor shops as of now, said the excise official.
Some of the areas where the (off) liquor shop licenses for sale of IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) will be provided are, Patharquary, Jalukbari, Bhagaduttapur, Dakhingaon, 9th Mile (Khanapara), Maanpara (Gorchuk- Fatasil Road), Jorabat, Birkuchi, Chunchali, Uzanbazar, GMCH-Birubari Road, Jayanagar Road, Barsapara, Panjabari, Gotanagar, Maligaon – Pandu Road, NB Path (Gorchuk), Patharkuchi – Basistha Road, Dhapalia, Noonmati (Nepali Chowk), Madgharia (Noonmati), Japorigog, Bakrapara, Manipuri Basti, Nowa Gaon (Gorchuk) and Ganeshpara (Kalapahar).
In some areas licenses for two liquor shops were provided.
It needs to be mentioned that places like Uzanbazar do not have any liquor shops but there are many shops which illegally sell liquor. Past attempts to establish legitimate liquor shops in the area were met with strong opposition from the local residents, who actively protested against such initiatives.
Given the context, the recent government decision to float a tender for a liquor shop in Uzanbazar may potentially be met with protests once again.
A senior Excise official in Kamrup (Metro) District Administration said that the tenders are floated according to the survey findings, if anyone applying for the shop applies, will require No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the locals which is a technical requirement. If the applicant is not able to provide NOC for Uzanbazar, the license will not be provided.
Upon inquiring about the process of license allocation and whether it involves any preferential treatment, the Excise official clarified that the procedure is entirely transparent and conducted through a bidding process. The licenses are awarded to the highest bidder, ensuring fairness and impartiality in the selection process.
Like Guwahati, the licenses for new liquor shops will be provided across the state.