No new liquor shop except in malls, will come up in Delhi in the current financial year and the mohalla sabhas will be empowered to shut existing neighbourhood vends if there are complaints of “nuisance”, the excise policy, approved by the AAP government said on Wednesday.
As per the new policy, which does not have any major changes, the rates of liquor will remain unchanged. In fact, rates have not been hiked in the last three years.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters the process to decide on shifting a shop to another area, with prior approval, will be initiated once 10% voters of a mohalla sabha submit a written complaint in this regard.
The city has around 380 government-run liquor shops (L6) while 87 are run privately (L7). New licences have not been issued in the last 10 years. The restrictions will cover L6 and L7 shops although L10 licences for shops in malls will be granted.
Sisodia, who addressed a press conference Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said that owners and managers of liquor vends would be acted against, to the extent of cancellation of licences if there are reports of nuisance in the vicinity of their stores.
The Delhi government approved the formation of 2,972 mohalla sabhas in June, describing it as a step towards strengthening local governance. (Inputs: PTI)
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