At least one area of the Meghalaya economy is seeing great growth – the liquor industry.
Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla informed the Assembly today that the number of licensed liquor shops in Meghalaya has increased by around one-third from 2018, going from 611 to 812 in 2022.
However, the opposition Trinamool Congress has expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of the government to root out unlicensed alcohol businesses, claiming that liquor is even available in pan shops in Tura.
Shylla said that the growth in the number of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) retail shops is bringing down the number of illegal businesses and earning greater revenues for the state exchequer.
TMC legislator Zenith Sangma, however, expressed disappointment, claiming that the black market for booze has in fact grown in the last two years.
“Is the government blind, because illegal liquor businesses are going on everywhere. In Tura, illegal liquor is available in almost every pan shop. Why doesn’t the government have such information?” he questioned.
The minister maintained that illegality has been reduced but admitted that it has not been completely eradicated. However, revenues are up and the government is expecting Rs 350 crore through liquor taxes and licence fees.
Shylla also said that the government has reversed its decision to declare certain areas as liquor-free zones when representatives of these neighbourhoods made requests to that effect. However, he said that no IMFL retail shops can be established in areas within a distance of 100m, or 50m in Shillong, from the entrance of any place of public worship, educational institution or hospital.
Meanwhile, East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh urged the minister to do more to combat bootlegging of alcohol in Laitumkhrah (which is part of her constituency) and other areas and for Excise officials not only to work during the opening and closing hours of liquor shops. Shylla assured her that both the Excise Department and police work to combat such illegalities.
