Hailakandi & Cachar administration orders opening of IMFL shops

May 2: The district administration has ordered the opening of IMFL shops from 11 am to 5 pm in Hailakandi district with immediate effect. An order issued to this effect by District Magistrate, Keerthi Jalli on Saturday, stated that the IMFL shop owners have to strictly adhere to social distancing norms and avoid gathering of customers failing which their excise licence would be cancelled.

The order directed the owners of wine shops to mark white circles around their shops with strict adherence to timelines failing which their excise licence would be suspended without prior notice. It also asked the wine shop owners to engage minimum staff and to provide hand sanitisers or soap with water to the customers. “Any violation of the guidelines in regard to COVID-19 will lead to cancellation of excise licence,” the order warned. The order directed the Superintendent of Excise to deploy officials to monitor the compliance of directives on COVID-19 issued by the National Health Mission, Assam.

Whereas in another separate order, Barnali Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar on 2 May stated, “In pursuance of the letter vide No.1-190/2014-15/Pt-1/414 dtd. Guwahati the 2nd May 2020 issued from the AddI Commissioner of Excise (I/c), Assam, Guwahati, the WholeSale vends of Foreign Liquor and Country Spirit are allowed to operate and also all IMFL ‘OFF/Country Spirit ‘OFF Shops located in the district are allowed to operate with immediate effect. Further, transportation of liquor consignments is allowed in the district w.e.f 02.05.2020 as per the provisions of Assam Excise Rules,2016. .However, all concerned licensee shall comply social distancing norms and other guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs,Government of India vide No.40-3/2020-DM-1(A) dated 1st May, 2020.” However, in this order, the time of keeping the liquor shops open was not mentioned.