Allow only MSIL outlets to open: Excise official

BENGALURU: Dry days are likely to end as the Karnataka government plans to allow sale of liquor for limited hours if the lockdown is extended beyond April 14, when the lockdown imposed by the Centre ends.The government is considering making liquor available as incidents of people addicted to alcohol committing suicide and facing health problems due to withdrawal symptoms are on the rise, said officials of the excise department. The incidents of burglaries targeting wine stores are also on the rise across the state since March 24.The excise department has made a proposal to allow sale of liquor between 10am and 1pm if the lockdown is extended beyond April 14 and the CM will take the final call, an officer said.Karnataka banned the liquor sale on March 21, four days before the nationwide lockdown announced by PM Modi took effect. Financial consideration has also prompted the government to mull over the issue as sale of liquor is the second highest money-spinner, after commercial tax, for the state government. As per the excise earnings for 2019-20, the government earns an average of Rs 1,800 crore a month. According to the current year budget, the government was hoping to earn Rs 22,700 crore and exceeded the target by Rs 450 crore.Among the four revenueearning sectors, liquor was the only silver lining for the government.“The government is cashstrapped since the lockdown has hampered revenue collection. It’s short of the revenue target by about Rs 5,000 crore. So it has to find ways to better its revenue collection by allowing sale of liquor,’’ an excise official said defending the move.Chief minister BS Yediyurappa ruled out resumption of liquor sale before April 14. “We’ll think of allowing sale only after that,” he added.Fearing a sudden rush if vends are opened for only a few hours, a senior excise official said the government must allow “all liquor shops” to function for full day or permit only MSIL outlets to operate full time, besides issuing stringent guidelines for the public to follow while buying liquor.