Vijayawada: The AP govt has extended the deadline for submission of applications for bars by three days from Tuesday. As per the revised schedule, the last date for filing applications has been extended up to 6 pm on Aug 29. The draw of lots will be held at 8 am on Aug 30. Earlier, the govt wanted to conduct draw of lots on Aug 28. The state govt received an unexpected blow from the traders as 243 applications were filed till the closure of original deadline on Tuesday. In fact, the excise and prohibition department expected massive rush on Tuesday, the last day for filing of applications. Although, around 3000 applications were sold in different districts, the traders did not rush to file the applications as anticipated by the department. Around 35 of 840 bars received four or more applications. Nearly 805 bars received less than four applications which means that no draw could be conducted for these bars prompting the authorities to extend the deadline. Sources said that the liquor traders found the new policy announced by the govt as unattractive and also loss making. They are reportedly exerting pressure on the govt to completely change the policy to withdraw of the system of draw of lots and also increase the trade margin. The department’s decision to go for draw of lots only when it receives minimum four applications per shop seemed to have refrained the traders from picking up so many applications. The traders have to forgo Rs.5 lakh as non-refundable fee in case they turned out to be unsuccessful in the draw of lots. In fact, the govt’s recent decision to allow permit rooms for liquor retail shops (wine shops) believed to have largely worked against the enthusiasm of the bar owners. Similarly, the retail shop working hours have also been extended from 10 am to 10 pm from the previous 10 am to 9 pm. Although, the bars have been permitted to operate from 10 am to 12 am (14 hours) from the previous 11 am to 10 pm (11 hours), the stiff competition from the retail shops reported to have discouraged the traders.While the margin on the sale of stock is almost similar to the retail shops, the bars have to pay 15 percent additional retail excise tax (ARET). In contrast to the bars, there was huge response for the retail shop licences when the TDP-led NDA govt issued new licences. The govt received around 66000 applications for just around 3396 shops. As per the new bar policy at least 3530 applications should have been sold out to conduct draw of lots for all the 840 shops. The officials thought that all those who purchased applications will file them on the last day. “We have decided to extend the deadline for submission of applications till Aug 28 in view of practical difficulties such as the heavy rains and floods in several districts, the intervening bank holidays and the ongoing preparatory arrangements for Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations,” said excise and prohibition commissioner Nishant Kumar. He directed the deputy commissioners and district prohibition and excise superintendents to share information with the intending traders about the revised schedule.
