Guwahati/Shillong, All <keyword id="6356212" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="LIQUOR">liquor</keyword> shops and wholesale <keyword id="93333" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="warehouses">warehouses</keyword> in Assam and Meghalaya will open from Monday for limited hours, official orders said on Sunday. In Assam all liquor shops and wholesale warehouses will remain open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the permitted days while these will open from 9 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from April 13 to April 17 in Meghalaya. Excise officials of the two states would supervise and monitor the business and works of these liquor shops, wholesale warehouses and permitted establishments. Additional Commissioner of <keyword id="9044494" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="assam-excise-department">Assam Excise Department</keyword> S.K. Medhi in a letter to the Deputy Commissioners of all 33 districts said that the state government has approved opening of India Made Foreign Liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries across Assam with effect from Monday subject to compliance of 10-pont guidelines. "These liquor shops may work with bare minimum staff and provide hand sanitisers to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash. The owner and management of these shops and other permitted installations would be responsible for deploying their staff to ensure social distancing. The owner and management of these permitted installations have to strictly follow all the directives issued by the National Health Mission of Assam with reference to COVID-19," said the letter, available with IANS. It said that the liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, distilleries, breweries, bottling plants shall work with bare minimum staff (not more than 50 per cent) and the permitted establishments must arrange to keep their employee and workers within their campus and arrange food and other amenities for them. The letter also said to keep the workers and staff at a designated place nearest to the factory premises, arrange transportation for the staffs and workers from the designated place to the factory by observing all the COVID-19 guidelines, obtain vehicle passes from the deputy commissioners of the respective districts for transportation of liquor consignments. "Any violation of the guidelines issued in regard to COVID-19 would invite cancellation of the excise license," Medhi's letter said. In Shillong, in a separate decision, the Meghalaya government has allowed the opening of wine shops and bonded warehouses from Monday. Meghalaya government's Commissioner of Excise in a letter to Deputy Commissioners of all 11 districts said that maintaining social distancing the wine shops and bonded warehouses can be opened from 9 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from April 13 to April 17. The letter stated that the owner of the wine shops would be made personally responsible by deploying their staff to ensure social distancing. "Only one person per household would be allowed to visit a wine shop for the purchase and the movement from one locality and one village to another locality shall be prohibited. The wine shops may function with bare minimum staff and provide hand sanitizers to customers and staff while handling bottles and cash," it said. --IANS sc/kr

Liquor shops, warehouses to reopen in Assam, Meghalaya for few hours

Guwahati, May 2 () The Assam government on Saturday allowed reopening of liquor outlets across the state with immediate effect, an Excise Department official said.All shops selling foreign and country-made liquor across the state are allowed to operate with immediate effect, Additional Commissioner of Excise, S K Medhi said in an order.Transportation of liquor consignments is also allowed as per the provisions of the Assam Excise Rules, 2016, the order stated.The licensees were directed to comply with the social distancing norms and other guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard.The Assam government had earlier allowed the sale of liquor from April 12 but had to stop it after three days following a directive from the Centre.Medhi had ordered all liquor outlets, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries across Assam to open for seven hours every day but had to issue another order on April 15 asking the deputy commissioners to close the establishments till further orders.He had stated that the revised order was issued by the state government "in view of the consolidated revised guidelines and national directives issued by the Centre forCOVID-19 management". DG ACD KJKJ

Lockdown: Assam allows reopening of liquor outlets across state

Guwahati, Apr 12 () All liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries across Assam will open from Monday for seven hours daily, an excise department order said on Sunday.A letter from Additional Commissioner of Excise S K Medhi to all the deputy commissioners (DCs) said the state government has approved opening of liquor shops with effect from April 13, subject to compliance of various guidelines issued by the health department.Along with the liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries have also been allowed to operate from Monday."IMFL OFF/CS OFF shop shall remain open from 10 am to 5 pm on the permitted days.... Shops may work with bare minimum staff and provide hand sanitisers to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash," the letter said.Medhi also told the DCs that the shops and other permitted installations will be responsible for deploying their staff to ensure social distancing and will have to strictly follow all the directives issued by the National Health Mission with reference to COVID-19."The wholesale warehouses, distilleries, breweries, bottling plants shall work with bare minimum staff but not more than 50 per cent of their regular staff and workers," the letter said.It stated that all the permitted establishments must arrange to keep their staff and workers within their campus and arrange food and other amenities for them."If the above arrangement is not possible, they shall arrange to keep such workers and staff at a designated place nearest to the factory premises."They shall also arrange transportation for the staff and workers from the designated place to the factory by observing all the COVID-19 guidelines," Medhi said in the letter.For transportation of liquor consignments, vehicle passes shall be obtained from the deputy commissioners of the respective districts, he added."Any violation of the guidelines issued in regard to COVID-19 will invite cancellation of the excise license," Medhi said. TR ESB SNS RC

Lockdown: Liquor shops, bottling plants to open in Assam from Monday

(Eds: Adding details) Guwahati, Apr 15 () Within two days of allowing production and sale of liquor amid the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, the Assam government on Wednesday withdrew its order after the Centre's guidelines on the extended shutdown did not give any such relaxation. In its consolidated guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, no relaxation has been given to liquor manufacturing or its retail sales, which was allowed in Assam from Monday by the state Excise Department. Prohibition was lifted in Assam's next door neighbour Meghalaya too the same day. A strict ban has been enforced on the sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco etc. under the updated guidelines that came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced extension of the nationwide-lockdown till May 3 to check spread of COVID-19 infection. "States/Union Territory cannot dilute restrictions imposed vide the aforesaid guidelines issued by MHA. States/UTs may, however, impose stricter measures than these guidelines as per requirement of local areas," Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to all Chief Secretaries during the day. Deputy commissioners of two districts of Assam told that the Union Cabinet secretary during a video conference this morning specifically instructed all states to shut activities related to production and sale of alcohol. Following this, the Assam Excise Department issued an order in evening asking all the DCs to close liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries indefinitely in the state. The communication issued by Additional Commissioner of Excise S K Medhi stated that the revised order from the state government was issued "in view of the Consolidated Revised Guidelines and National Directives issued by the Central Government for COVID-19 management". On April 12, Medhi had ordered all liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries across Assam to open from the next day for seven hours daily. Opening of the liquor vends on Monday after 20 days had seen long queue of tipplers at wine shops. Maintaining social distance, people stood in serpentine queues to have their choice of liquor bottle. TR SNS RAXRAX

Assam orders closure of liquor shops following centre's new guidelines on lockdown

Guwahati, Apr 15 () Two days after allowing manufacture and sale of liquor in the state, the Assam government on Wednesday withdrew the order following guidelines issued by the Centre on the extended lockdown due to coronavirus.In the consolidated guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, no relaxation has been given to liquor manufacturing or retail sales, which was allowed in Assam from Monday by the state Excise Department.The department issued an order this evening asking all deputy commissioners to close liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries indefinitely in the state.It had on April 12 allowed liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries across Assam to open from Monday for seven hours daily. TR SNS ZMN

Assam withdraws liquor sale order after Centre's guidelines on extended lockdown

By Achinta Borah New Delhi, Apr 14 () Agriculture, fishing activities and pharma industry are likely to get relaxation during the extended period of lockdown, while curbs in 370 districts out of around 720 will continue with total halt on inter-district movement of people, officials said on Tuesday. Highway 'dhabas' (eateries), truck repairing shops and construction works with local labourers are also expected to be allowed to function in the districts where there has been no case of COVID-19. Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the extension of the lockdown, imposed initially for 21 days from March 25 to check the spread of coronavirus, till May 3. The likely exemptions will come into effect from April 20 in a phased manner. The Union Home Ministry officials are busy framing the guidelines which will carry the broad parameters for the implementation of the extended lockdown and exemptions to be given during the period. Harvesting and sowing activities will be allowed with strict social distancing norms, a home ministry official told . Pharma industries, fishing activities, highway 'dhaba' (roadside eateries), truck repairing shops will also be allowed during the lockdown, the official said. While a number of states, including Assam and Meghalaya, have already allowed opening of liquor shops, the guidelines are likely to allow the state governments to frame their own excise policy. During the chief ministers conference, convened by the Prime Minister on April 11, several chief ministers had strongly pitched for opening of the liquor shops as it is a key revenue generating source. During 2019-20, Assam has reportedly received about Rs 2,000 crore revenue from the excise while Delhi's annual revenue was about Rs 3,000 crore. While smooth functioning of the pharma industry is essential for regular supply of medicines, agricultural and fishing will be allowed keeping in mind the interests of the farmers. 'Dhabas' and truck repairing shops are essential for the thousands of people engaged in transportation of both essential and non-essential cargos across the length and breadth of the country. Officials said of the around 720 districts in the country, around 370 are currently affected by coronavirus pandemic. The whole country is likely to be divided into three zones -- red, orange and green -- depending on the number of COVID-19 cases. Red zones will be the districts where sizeable number of cases were detected or areas which were declared hotspots, orange zones will be those districts where only a few cases were found in the past with no increase in the number of positive cases and green zone will the districts where there is no COVID-19 case. There will be no inter-district movement of people till May 3 and agricultural wholesale markets (Mandi) will be allowed to function with limited number of buyers and sellers under strict monitoring of police, another official said. There will also be relaxation in transportation of agricultural and MSME labourers, who will be allowed to kept in safe houses with proper maintenance of social distance. The home ministry is preparing the guidelines on the basis of suggestions given by chief ministers, central ministries and departments following their experience during the 21-day lockdown period as well as the COVID-19 situation, the official said. The districts, which were identified as Coronavirus hotspots, will be isolated and most of the exemptions given to green zones will not be applicable there. The district magistrates are expected to implement the containment measures and legal action will be taken against violators, the official said. ACB RTRT

Harvesting, sowing activities, highway 'dhabas' likely to be exempted from extended lockdown

New Delhi, Apr 16 () India's sugar sales in both domestic and overseas markets have taken a beating in view of the nationwide lockdown imposed by the government for preventing the spread of the deadly COVID-19, industry body ISMA said on Thursday.However, fall in overseas sales of sugar during the lockdown is expected to "partially or largely" get compensated by the extra sales to Indonesia, which is likely to meet its sugar demand from India in view of shortages in Thailand, it said.Meanwhile, the country's total sugar production has reached 24.78 million tonne till April 15 of the 2019-20 marketing year (October-September), down by 20 per cent from 31.17 million tonne in the year-ago period, it added."The exports have been affected due to sudden drop in global sugar prices, but the recent depreciation of rupee is giving some relief to the exporters," Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.Also, Indian sugar will be in very high demand in Indonesia after it opened its market by giving preferential lower customs duty along with Thailand and Australia, it said.Already, sugar is getting exported to Indonesia over the last few weeks. But a major portion of the unmet import demand from Indonesia will come to India, which can see a spurt from June-July and may continue for another year or so, it added.According to ISMA, Indonesia imports about 80-85 per cent of its sugar demand from Thailand, where production has fallen sharply by 6.5 million tonne in the current year and is expected to drop further next year as well.The industry body also mentioned that Indian exporters would have more sugar for shipments after the government reallocated the unexported quota fixed for the current year.For the current year, the government has allowed export of 6 million tonne of sugar under the quota to help deal with the surplus sugar.On domestic sugar sales, the industry body said sales and despatches of sugar have got "affected" due to the countrywide lockdown.Closure of restaurants, malls, movie halls among other public premises has in turn impacted the demand for sugar sweetened products like ice cream, beverages, juices, confectionaries, sweets, etc, he said.ISMA further said the domestic pipeline, which usually holds 10-15 lakh tons of sugar, is expected to have dried up during the lockdown, when sugar in the pipeline got used up."Hence, as soon as the lockdown is lifted, there can be an increase in sugar demand, especially from the bulk consumers when their operations start resuming," it added.On supply of ethanol, the industry body said there were initial problems in offtake by oil marketing companies due to fall in petrol consumption during the lockdown period. But after quick intervention, the supplies were shifted to states and depots where requirement was there.So ethanol has now started going to newer depots in Jharkhand, Bengal, MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, AP, Telangana and Kerala. Efforts are being explored to see if ethanol can be sent to Odisha and Assam too.The ethanol supplies/offtake have improved and it is expected that with newer depots taking ethanol, there will be adequate offtake as per contracts, it added.ISMA also mentioned that a majority of sugar companies decided to make hand sanitizers to supply to hospitals and institutions by using a part of the ethanol/ENA production, thereby ensuring that India does not face any shortage of good quality hand sanitizers. "Some of them are supplying the sanitizers at cost price or even free of cost. With the State Excise department and State Drug Controllers giving full cooperation, this new segment of production of hand sanitizers has been successfully launched very quickly by most of the sugar companies," it added.On overall sugar production, ISMA said mills have produced 24.78 million tonnes of sweetener till April 15 of this marketing year, down from 31.17 million tonne in the year-ago period.Of the total, sugar production reached 10.8 million tonne in Uttar Pradesh, 50.01 million tonne in Maharashtra and 3.38 million tonne in Karnataka till April 15 of this year. These are the country's top three sugar producing states. LUX SHW ANUANU

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