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- Published: May 11, 2021 14:18
New Delhi: In a good news for tipplers, the liquor shops have opened in few cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Varanasi and Agra, the city of Taj Mahal.
Uttar Pradesh government has allowed liquor shops in Gautam Buddh Nagar to resume operations from Tuesday. As per the government directive, liquor and beer shops in the district can open from 10 AM to 7 PM.
Liquor shops have also re-opened in Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Agra and Varanasi from Tuesday. In Varanasi, liquor shops have been allowed to operate from 7 AM-1 PM.
Liquor shops in Varanasi open today amid #COVID19 pandemic. As per the official orders, they are allowed to operate from 7 am to 1 pm. pic.twitter.com/qDuvKLmETV
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 11, 2021
Liquor shops also opened its shutters in Agra, where liquor will be sold from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Liquor shops including bars and canteens will be closed.
However, at many places as soon as the shops opened, large crowd gathered flouting social distancing and other Covid protocols. Following which, the police took control of the situation and ensured people’s adherence to Covid guidelines.
Wine traders wrote to CM over incurring losses
The move to open wine & beer shops came after Lucknow Wine Association (LWA) wrote a letter to UP chief minister and chief secretary seeking permission for opening of liquor shops across the state.
The vice president of LWA Vikas Srivastava said, “Wine traders are in a dilemma as the GO of state is not clear about the opening of liquor shops. The wine traders generate revenue of more than ₹100 crore per day in the state. We are given a monthly quota and if we fail to meet that, we are under the threat of losing the license.”
“The wine shops are suffering a constant loss due to closure for one reason or another that is why we need the permission to open the shops to minimise personal losses and maximise the revenue collection of the state government,” he wrote.
Notably, liquor sales were prohibited during the partial lockdown or ‘corona curfew’ that has been extended till May 17 due to exponential rise in COVID-19 cases in the state.