Mysore/Mysuru: Following loss of business due to COVID-19 lockdown, Federation of Wine Merchants Association of Karnataka has appealed to the State Government to allow instalment facility to pay liquor licence renewal fee.

Addressing a press conference at  ‘True Spirits’ store in Jayalakshmipuram in city yesterday, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar District Liquor Merchants Association President S. Guruswamy said that wine merchants have suffered financial losses due to the shutting down of liquor shops following the lockdown.

As such, a memorandum has been submitted to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa seeking fulfilment of their various demands, which chiefly included allowing four instalment facility for payment of liquor licence renewal fee across all classifications.

Pointing out that Maharashtra has begun renewal of licence by facilitating three instalment payments, Guruswamy said that the Karnataka Government should permit for payment in four instalments. The other demands included waiver of building tax and deferment of 50 percent of power bills and property tax for six months, he noted.

Continuing, he said that the Government, while permitting opening of CL-4 (clubs), CL-7 (hotels) and CL-9 (bars and restaurants) licence outlets, has asked them to clear only the existing stocks by May 17. But these outlets have to shut down once again once the stocks are exhausted. As such, the Chief Minister has been appealed to permit these licence holders too to sell liquor at MRP rates just as CL-2 licence holders (wine shops).