Unsold Liquor vends under hammer again :Admin.
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, May 10,
Himachal Pradesh Government decided to invite fresh buds again to unsold Liquor Vends on Pro-Rata Basis currently temporarily Managed by PSU Employees. One page notification issued yesterday states that the government has decided to re-invite bids for retail liquor vends that remained unsold in the earlier auction for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
According State Taxes and Excise Department these vends, located in districts like Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra, are currently being managed by employees of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), State Corporations, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
“To revive private interest and streamline retail liquor operations, the government has fixed May 13, 2025, as the date for re-allotment through auction-cum-tender under provision 2.22 of the Excise Policy 2025–26. ” Notification states.
The Minimum Reserve Price of these vends would be calculated on a pro-rata basis, considering the remaining duration of the financial year. If vends remain unallotted even after the upcoming auction, they would continue to be run by the respective corporations and ULBs.
In a related move, country liquor is to be lifted preferably by these public entities from the Himachal Pradesh General Industries Corporation (HPGIC).
Additionally, all hotels operated by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) in the four districts have been instructed to procure liquor exclusively from the nearest retail vend operated by a State Corporation or ULB.
The move is seen as to curb the monopoly of private liquor vendors and, ensuring that unallotted vends do not sit idle.
The PSU staff managing these outlets especially home guard Jawan are not happy with their deployment in market operations until private players did not come forward.
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