Industrialists seek compensation for closed liquor firms
Patna,(BiharTimes): Even as the senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi takes credit industrialists of Bihar are critical of the state cabinet’s January 17 decision not to renew the licence of breweries, distilleries and bottling plants. They are demanding compensation and claimed that the move would drive investment away from the state.
According to Satyajit Kumar Singh, co-chairman of Bihar committee of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the government has cheated and betrayed them. He demanded that the government to compensate liquor companies whose units in the state would be closed after the non-renewal of licence.
Reports said that at least one of the
affected companies is planning to move court.
P K Agrawal, president, Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries said that though prohibition is the policy of the state government, it should not do anything that would create a negative image about the state.
He also said that the state government should compensate investors and ensure they do not suffer losses. He said alternative arrangements should be made.
Agrawal cited the example of Sona Sati distillery in Gopalganj district, which started producing ethanol after total prohibition was implemented. It took only slight modification in the machines to produce ethanol. There were no financial losses, nor was anyone retrenched.
President of the Bihar Industries Association Ram Lal Khetan also sought compensation for affected firms.
Meanwhile, Sushil Modi said that the state government took this decision only after repeated demand to close all such firms made by the BJP. “There is no point having liquor industries when prohibition has been imposed,” he said.
