New Delhi: The Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday passed a proposal to allow the sale of wine at supermarkets and walk-in shops in the state. As per the new rule, the wine will be sold in supermarkets that are operated in more than 1,000 square foot areas.
However, the decision of selling wine in markets attracted flak from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that the government was promoting liquor.
The decision was taken to give a boost to fruit-based wineries which provide additional income to farmers, Minister for Skill Development Nawab Malik told reporters.
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office said the "shelf-in-shop" technique will be taken on in general stores and walk-in-stores which have an area of 100 sq mt or more and which are enrolled under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act.
Yet, the stores which are close to spots of worship or educational institutions would not be able to sell wine. Further, wine sales won't be permitted in the regions where the restriction is in power. General stores will have to pay a hefty fine of Rs 5,000 if found selling wine.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis criticised the decision, saying the government had rolled back prohibition.
"We will not allow Maharashtra to become a Madya-Rashtra (`liquor state')," he said.
The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government didn't help people during two years of the pandemic yet its "need is advancing the sale of alcohol," the former CM said.
(With PTI inputs)