Liquor To Get Cheaper In Delhi As Government Removes 70% ‘Special Corona Fee’; New Prices From June 10

A special fee was imposed by Kejriwal government on all liquor categories, levied at 70% of the MRP on May 5. After a month now the government has decided to remove the special fee.

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New Delhi: Almost a month after introducing special corona fee on MRP of liquor bottles, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi, has announced withdrawal of the fee. The special fee will be repealed with effect from June 10,2020, in a relief to the customers, who were paying hefty prices, since over a month. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The government, however, increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) on all categories of liquor from 20 per cent to 25 per cent. A special fee was imposed by Kejriwal government on all liquor categories, levied at 70% of the MRP on May 5. The move was supposed to boost the government revenue, which had been hit hard due to the coronavirus-forced lockdown, but led to a steep rise in the retail prices of liquor bottles and  government looked to earn additional revenue. When liquor shops were exempted from lockdown, immense rush was witnessed at the counters of Delhi, in a massive violation of social distancing rules. To avoid overcrowding at these shops, Delhi government came up with an e-token system, which provides time slots to customers. This enables people to visit the particular counter on a given date and time. Also watch |  Border, Restaurants, malls & places of worship to open in Delhi: CM Kejriwal