Ranchi Aug 1 (IANS) The Jharkhand government started selling liquor from Tuesday from the 210 shops it has opened in the state and hopes to almost double excise duty collections to Rs 1 500 crore per annum from the existing Rs 800 crore -- and also curb illegal liquor sales.
The number of outlets will be gradually increased.
Till July 31 1 400 licensed shops alloted through auctions were selling liquor in the state. These have now been shut.
"From August 1 Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Ltd (JSBCL) has started selling liquor. In the first phase liquor will be sold at 210 shops " said Avinash Kumar Secretary of the state Excise Department.
The liquor shops will remain open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the urban areas and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the rural areas.
An individual can only buy only three litres of liquor and 5.2 litres of beer at a time.
Of the 210 shops 60 have been opened in East Singhbhum and 32 in state capital Ranchi.
--IANS
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