Bhubaneswar: Respecting the demands of people especially women in rural areas, the State Government has decided not to grant new liquor shop licenses in rural areas during the year 2023-24.
In its new Excise Policy for the year 2023-24, the State Government said, “No new application for ‘ON’ shop license shall be accepted for rural areas in 2023-24.”
Similarly, there will be no increase in the number of FL-OFF, premium FL-OFF & CL shops for the year 2023-24.
The license of existing FL-OFF & CL (ENA based) EP holders would be renewed for a period of one-year ie. up to the end of March, 2024.
However, in urban areas, a new ‘ON’ shop license can be granted for only star hotels and other hotels having such a minimum number of rooms to be decided by the Excise Department.
For new ‘ON’ licenses to be renewed in urban or rural areas, shops must adhere to basic infrastructure and hygiene requirements from a consumer point of view.
The Government has taken this move keeping in the interest of women groups, those raised the issue in different rural areas of the State in the recent past and respecting their demands, officials admit.
“ON” license may be granted to Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) Hotels at half the rates applicable as above for license fee, based on where the said hotels are located. No such concession is allowed for OTDC or ITDC hotels leased to private individuals
Like last year, the State Government has decided to provide temporary licenses for liquor sale to OTDC at the eco-retreat venues at a promotional rate.
For the purpose of tourism promotion, serving of liquor in Beach Shacks is now allowed in Odisha. The license for location and the number of Beach Shacks allowed for serving liquor will be based on the approval given by the Government in the Tourism Department.
As per the Policy, the Beach Shacks will be allowed to operate throughout the year or for a period as decided by the Tourism Department, depending on climatic conditions. The operations of the beach shacks will be either through OTDC directly or through Beach Shack operators engaged by OTDC.
The Annual ‘ON’ license fee for each Beach Shack will be Rs.50,000 per annum and will be granted to OTDC, which will select the beach shacks operators through an appropriate method.
OTDC would also be responsible for ensuring that only Odisha registered duty paid liquor is served in such Beach Shacks.
Common infrastructure for the beach shacks such as power connection, water supply, sewerage connections, solid waste management etc. will be provided by OTDC or the relevant agency. The Beach Shack license will be treated as a special category of ‘Restaurant ON’ license.
OTDC as a licensee will be responsible for ensuring compliance to all the licensing conditions as per the statute. Beach shacks to water bodies in the hinterland of Odisha are applicable to different water bodies such as rivers, lakes, dams, etc.
New beach shack license to OTDC cannot be sanctioned unless the existing IMFL Hotel/ Restaurant/ Beer Parlour ON licenses of OTDC at the same location is renewed.