Shimla
This time the auction of liquor contracts in the state is not exceeding the figure fixed by the government. Due to which there is a delay in the auction of contracts. In many places where the contracts have been auctioned, the auction was done below the reserve price, due to which the Excise and Taxation Department is incurring a loss of crores.
In Shimla district also, contracts have been auctioned at a lower price this time than last time. To eliminate the possibility of loss during the auction of liquor contracts, it is proposed to auction liquor shops again on Wednesday. Under this, liquor shops will be auctioned in Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Una, Kullu and Bilaspur.
In this, auction of liquor contracts of Kangra will be held in Lions Club Shyamnagar, auction of Shimla contracts will be held in Bachat Bhawan Shimla, auction of liquor shops of Kullu will be held in Community Bhawan of Dhalpur, District Council Bhawan in Mandi, Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Bilaspur, Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Una.
The government has given orders to the department to re-auction all the liquor contracts auctioned at the minimum reserve price. Along with this, the department has been instructed to run these liquor shops through the old contractor for the next ten days. According to this, the department has started the next process.
In 6 out of 12 districts of the state, the auction of liquor contracts has been less than the revenue of last year. Shimla district is at the top in this. Last year, the district had a revenue of 254 crores from the auction of liquor contracts. This time it is not able to cross the figure of 203 crores.
There has been a revenue loss of 21 crores in Kullu, 24 crores in Mandi, 4 crores in Bilaspur and 20 crores in Kangra. The contractors have offered to take all these contracts at their minimum reserve price. The government has rejected this. Now it is proposed to auction these liquor contracts again on Wednesday.
