2111 get liquor licences through a draw of lots
District collectors held the draw of lots
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-09-24 07:27 GMT
Hyderabad: Liquor licences were allotted to as many as 2,111 shops through a draw of lots that was held in all the districts of Telangana State on Wednesday. District collectors held the draw of lots after several shops received applications ranging from 10 to 50 each.
While the government had invited applications for 2,216 shops across the state, there were no takers for 105 shops. The draw of lots was necessitated after a majority of the 2,216 shops received multiple applications.
Tense moments prevealed at the venues with applicants waiting anxiously to know if their luck would last and they would get licences or forego the application fee of Rs 50,000.
For the first time, the government has prescribed application fee, which was non-refundable.
Due to stiff competition, the application fee alone fetched nearly Rs 155 crore, against the Rs 54 crore two years ago. The excise department on Wednesday decided to issue re-notification for granting licences for 105 shops that found no takers in the first round.
“The notification will be issued on September 29 and applications will be accepted till October 5. The draw of lots will be held on October 6 and licences will be issued on October 7,” said R.V. Chandravadan, the excise commissioner. The government is planning to run the liquor shops on its own through Telangana State Beverages Corporation, if they fail to find takers even in the second round.