Timings of Bars & Restaurants in Star Hotels May be Extended till 2 am

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 16:  Closure timings of bars and restaurants in Star Hotels of Karnataka are likely to be extended from the present 11.30 pm till 2 am.

An indication to this effect was given by Karnataka’s Excise Minister M P Renukacharya. Keeping the comforts of tourists was the main reason behind the move, he said pointing out that the Excise Department had planned to relax the rule.

"A proposal was also before the department to extend the timings of all other bars and restaurants located in the State,” he said.

The minister said the state government was under tremendous pressure from tourists and star hotels located in Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Mangalore and other cities of the State to extend the timings of bars and restaurants from the present 11.30 pm.

Pointing out that a large number of business and trade conferences were taking places in addition to the visit of several delegations and tourists besides outstation and foreign visitors staying in the star hotels in most of the cities, Renukacharya said the extension of the closure timings would remove the irritants. In addition, the move would also help in generating more revenues to the state, he said.

But, he said a final decision would be after consultation with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Home Department.

The Excise Department has no problem in relaxing the norm, he said. 

The Minister ruled out providing compensation to kith and kin of those who lose their lives consuming illicit liquor.

Consumption of illicit liquor is banned in the State and there was no ground for providing compensation to families of the persons who died due to consumption of illicit liquor. If the compensation is to be granted, many families would come forward to claim compensation by producing fake documents, he said explaining that it would be difficult to prove the claims.

During the recent gram panchayat elections, six people died in Chickballapur district due to consumption of illicit liquor. The two officials from the Excise department had been suspended and district police instructed to nab the culprits.

In a bid to eradicate the menace of the sale of illicit liquor and its health hazards, it had been proposed to set up Village Committees in every grama panchayats to create awareness, he said.

Renukacharya said 753 cases were registered in the state relating to unauthorised sale of liquor during the two-phase panchayat elections. Bangalore Division topped the list with 155 cases. Police have arrested 398 people.

A total of 82 cases have been registered in Belgaum district, 53 in Gulbarga district, 119 in Hospet taluk and 75 in Mangalore taluk.

Nearly 4,600 litres of illegally stored liquor has been seized during the two phase panchayat campaign, he said.

The department collected revenue of Rs 7,500 crore through sale of liquor during 2009-10.

In April this year, the Excise revenue collection rose by 24 per cent to Rs 567 crore from Rs 454 crore in April month last year.

Answering questions, he said the Chaitayananda Trust of Davangere has adopted a fiveyear-old boy, who was addicted to liquor. The boy has been de-addicted and the trust assured him of providing free education to the boy till 10th standard.