Awaiting Centre’s guidelines for opening liquor shops in K'taka from April 15: BSY

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is waiting for Centre’s guidelines to open liquor shops in the state from April 15, informed chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday.

The state government has so far lost around Rs 1,800 crore in excise revenues since the lock-down was announced and the government is under pressure to open liquor shops from April 15.

However, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who held a review meeting to assess the lock-down implications on the state with the officials of various departments with his Cabinet colleagues and chief secretary, discussed the opening of liquor shops but has decided to wait for Prime Minister’s guidelines.

Speaking with this regard Yediyurappa said, “Discussions are on the weather to implement relaxation on sale of liquor through Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) outlets, after April 14, we will take a decision in this regard.”

Meanwhile, Minister Ramesh Jarakiholi said, “There is no need to open liquor shops during the lockdown. I will talk to CM and convince him not to allow sale of liquor in the state