Government open to retain liquor distributors

The West Bengal Foreign Liquor Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Bonders Association today held a meeting with senior state government officials in view of the state government's decision to form a company to foray into liquor trade.
"The meeting was held with the state finance secretary and excise commissioner among others. This is the first time we held a meeting after we started agitating against the government decision," the association's vice-president Vikram Soni told PTI.
Sony said that the government remained firm on its decision to form a corporation, but it also indicated that they might be retained after all in the distribution system chain.

"The government had sought suggestion from us on how a three-tier system of distribution can be built so that even the proposed corporation can also be part of it without disturbing the existing set-up," he said.
Soni hoped that 70,000 jobs would be protected if the government retained their role in the distribution chain.
Till now, the liqour body had an impression that they would be put out of business and the government would assume their role.

According to Soni, the government has indicated that it might be dealing with the manufacturers while wholesalers will be distributing among the retailers with their existing infrastructure.

"This will be a win-win situation for all stakeholders and a most ideal scenario and no one will be affected," Soni claimed.
"The governemnt has also decided to renew our licenses for the time being," the wholesalers body official said.
The distributors had feared direct and indirect job loss for 70,000 people attached to 102 wholesalers after the state government's decision to form a company which might help to earn around Rs 150 crore in the first year.
Government officials could not be reached for their comments.