The State Excise Department, Palghar have decided to extend the time in regard to initiate action against those liquor shops in Vasai who have named their liquor shops, beer bars and permit rooms after deities, historical figures and forts across the district.
The Department are in a fix on what names of deities should not be put on the signboards of the liquor shops and beer bars.
According to Kantilal B. Umap, Commissioner, State Excise we are yet to decide on what deities' names should not be put on the signboards of the liquor shops we have sent a proposal to the department in this regard and are awaiting the reply and then we will take action. As of now, the decision is on hold said the official.
A notice was issued to all the liquor shops to remove the names or else their liquor license will be cancelled and a fortnight time has been given in this regard. Meantime the bar owners and hoteliers had also called a meeting of their members to discuss the Excise notice notification.
On 7 April 2022, the State government issued the notification in this regard and the Palghar department has decided to take action said PI Dilip Bamne, Excise Department, Palghar. The process is simple and the bar and liquor shop owners have to just apply to our Department and change the names of their establishments said Bamne.
The Excise department had given 30 June as the deadline to change the names he said or else their liquor licenses would be cancelled but now it has extended time.
Prakash Hegde, president of Vasai Virar Hotel Association has protested the Excise notice and said we will fight against the same. A meeting was held shortly with the members and a firm decision was taken on the naming of deities we approached the department to give clarity.
"We generate revenue in crores each year and the Excise department is just harassing us," said Hegde. "Due to the Covid-19 pandemic our hotels were closed and we lost revenue and now that things are opening up, the Excise department is harassing us," said one hotel owner.
"It seems the Excise department is acting against us under political pressure and we will surely fight and if needed we will also approach the court for justice," said Nagraj Shetty, a member.
"My grandfather had started a beer bar named Shri Krishna in Virar around 40 years ago and I am carrying on the legacy," said Ashish Kadam the third-generation owner. So how come the name of Lord Krishna has been sullied by just naming our bar after God questioned Kadam. "In all hotels and establishments we place the photos of gods and goddesses above the cash counter and we worship the deities daily so do we have to also remove the photos and stop praying to our deities also," questioned Kadam.
