Liquor licence renewal process starts in Chandrapur

CHANDRAPUR: Even as state excise department began the process of renewal of suspended liquor licences from Wednesday, no application could be filed on the first day.
Officials claimed although over 150 people had come up with the renewal applications, all were rejected for enclosing flawed and insufficient documents.
State government had revoked the six-year-long liquor ban in Chandrapur wide a GR dated June 8.However, the process of renewal of liquor licences, suspended since April 1, 2015 when prohibition was enforced in Chandrapur, was withheld for additional directives from commissioner of excise department.
Detailed guidelines were received on Tuesday, following which the renewal process was formally started from Wednesday.
There were 561 types of excise licences in Chandrapur when the prohibition was promulgated. These include 110 country liquor retail licences (CL3), 24 wine shop (FL2), 318 beer bar (FL3), 25 beer shoppe (FLBR2) and other liquor licences.
After the ban, 18 FL2 licencees and eight CL3 holders opted to transfer their permits out of Chandrapur, while rest remained suspended.
“We have started renewal process at three division offices in Chandrapur, Rajura and Warora and have offered single window scheme. Over 150 licence holders had flocked all the three offices, but their applications could not be processed for want of sufficient documents,” said a senior excise officer.
He, however, maintained that all applicants were explained about the necessary documents, NOCs and procedure to be followed at every excise office.