Meghalaya collects Rs 6 Cr revenue from liquor sale

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 7, 2020

The Meghalaya government collected over Rs 6 crore of revenue from liquor sale after relaxations in COVID-19 lockdown were announced.

“An amount of Rs 6 crore was collected by the government from the day winestores are allowed to re-open,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters on Thursday.

Wine stores and bonded warehouses in the state have re-opened from May 4.

The government’s decision saw a large number of tipplers queuing up outside liquor shops across the state on Monday as well as on Tuesday.

Taking strong cognizance of social distancing violation at the liquor stores, the chief secretary MS Rao has issued stern warning of closing down such establishments if they failed to take measures to prevent overcrowding in their respective premises. 

Rao had said this might derail the efforts of the state’s Covid-19 containment strategy adding that stern action will taken against violators.

“Any person violating physical distancing norms including not wearing masks in public areas shall be strictly acted upon as per provisions of law u/s 269 and other relevant sections of lPC,” he had said.