Bangalore: Renukacharya for late bar hours

DHNS

• But, B’lore police chief is against it

Bangalore, 16 May 2010: Tipplers in the State capital may soon get to enjoy their drinks at pubs and bars till 2 am, if Excise Minister M P Renukacharya has his way.

On Saturday, Renukacharya indicated that the State government is seriously considering the long-pending demand by the pub and bar owners to extend the business hour beyond 11.30 pm.

“The Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa has been briefed in this regard and a decision will be taken soon,” he told reporters.

Owners of pubs and bars have been arguing that curtailing night life in the tech city will affect their business and also result in revenue loss to the Government.

They want the Government to extend the business hour till 2 am.

When contacted the Bangalore City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said, “There is no proposal to extend the business hour. If we receive the proposal, we will work on the pros and cons and give our opinion to the government. Amendments have to be made and modalities have to be worked out.”

Checking illicit liquor

Even as he proposed to enlarge the drinking window, the minister said he envisaged Village Committees in all Gram Panchayats to create awareness on the menace of illicit liquor.

Two officials from the Excise department have been suspended for the hooch tragedy in Chikkaballapur district which consumed six lives during the recent Gram Panchayat elections. Stringent action will be taken against those responsible, he added.

Unauthorised sale

As many as 753 cases were registered in the State for unauthorised sale of liquor during the elections.

Bangalore Division tops the list with 155 cases and the police have arrested 398 people in this connection, the minister added.

The Excise Department has earned a revenue of Rs 7,500 crore by the sale of liquor during 2009-10.

The revenue went up by 24 per cent to Rs 567 crore from Rs 454 crore over the  previous year, Renukacharya said.