Kolkata: The cash-strapped Bengal government's decision to enter the liquor distribution business has upset people who work in the liquor industry and now, the industry is waiting for the small print, which is expected to be announced during the state budget on Friday.
The move is a world away from Bihar, with which the state shares its border. The Nitish Kumar government has recently won praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the implementation of prohibition in the state.
But caught in a debt trap, the Bengal government is desperately trying to increase its revenue. Last year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut down on dry days, enabling the sale of liquor all 365 days a year. In 2016, IMFL sales earned the state over Rs 4,000 crore. Now the government has decided to enter the wholesale liquor business through a state-run agency.
Santosh, who is an office bearer in an association of liquor sales representatives, said, "17,000 people are in this trade. The government doesn't seem to know. We are holding the rally, so they know 17,000 livelihoods are at stake."
Vikram Soni, Vice President, Bengal's IMFL Wholesaler Association said, "The government is hoping to make an additional Rs 150 crore. But we doubt it. Because huge expenses are needed to run the corporation, which they are not calculating. There is total miscalculation. The government needs to talk with us once. We tried but there was no response."
The move is a world away from Bihar, with which the state shares its border. The Nitish Kumar government has recently won praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the implementation of prohibition in the state.
But caught in a debt trap, the Bengal government is desperately trying to increase its revenue. Last year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut down on dry days, enabling the sale of liquor all 365 days a year. In 2016, IMFL sales earned the state over Rs 4,000 crore. Now the government has decided to enter the wholesale liquor business through a state-run agency.
Santosh, who is an office bearer in an association of liquor sales representatives, said, "17,000 people are in this trade. The government doesn't seem to know. We are holding the rally, so they know 17,000 livelihoods are at stake."
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Vikram Soni, Vice President, Bengal's IMFL Wholesaler Association said, "The government is hoping to make an additional Rs 150 crore. But we doubt it. Because huge expenses are needed to run the corporation, which they are not calculating. There is total miscalculation. The government needs to talk with us once. We tried but there was no response."
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