Bar time extension to bring Haryana at par with Delhi: Min

Chandigarh, Feb 21 (UNI) Haryana Excise and Taxation Minister, Birender Singh today emphasised that the provision to allow the extension of Bar timings was made in order to match the facilities provided to the bars in adjoining New Delhi.

However,the much-publicised 24-hour availability of liquor under the new Excise Policy in the state, would be admissible only to the hotels having grading of 4 stars and above, he clarified.

Under the new rules in the Excise Policy for the year 2008-09, the liquor serving time could be extended by two hours on payment of additional fee of Rs. 5 lakh and for 24 hours operation on additional annual payment of Rs. 10 lakh.

He said the new policy, approved recently, was having a number of salient features and aimed at effectively check the monopoly of some liquor contracters.

It was expected to generate the excise revenue of about Rs 1440 crore, which was about Rs. 90 crore more than the target of current financial year of Rs. 1350 crore.

The Excise Minister said that the license fee of bars in four and five star and above category had been revised to Rs.10 lakh besides the Government had also revised the time of sale hours from 0900 hrs to mid night as against 0800 hrs to midnight earlier.

UNI JN BK1921