Ranchi, July 31: The Jharkhand government, which is gearing up to take over retail liquor trade from tomorrow with an admittedly severe manpower crunch, will directly run only about 210 outlets across the state against the existing 1,000-odd.

The outcome of a cabinet decision on February 21, 2017, the move comes at a time when chief minister Raghubar Das has asserted that he would implement prohibition in the state in a phased manner.

A purchase limit has already been set. From tomorrow, no customer can buy more than 3 litres of liquor and 5.2 litres of beer from one outlet in one transaction. He can of course go to another shop to buy the same amount, but it is significant that a cap has been fixed.

Two persons would man each of the 210 liquor outlets from 1pm to 10pm in urban areas and from noon to 8pm in rural areas. In urban areas, an hour-long break from 4pm would see no transaction. There will no break in rural areas.

Price of liquor bottles will also vary from tomorrow.

"Prices of certain brands may go up from 6 per cent to 8 per cent and that of others will proportionally go down. Price has been fixed in accordance with those in neighbouring states. District administrations have been directed to deploy adequate police force to facilitate smooth business. Excise department officials and retired Armed forces personnel would also be deployed," said excise secretary Avinash Kumar at a news meet.

Kumar said their revenue target for the current fiscal was Rs 1,500 crore, which he claimed would be achieved.

Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation managing director Vinod Shankar Singh said the cap on customers was to "regulate supply". But, an individual could store up to two crates of liquor or up to 24 litres, and an equal quantity of beer at his house, he added.

In Ranchi, instead of 101 existing retail outlets, 28 outlets would run but only 15 from tomorrow. In Jamshedpur, only 25 liquor outlets will operate, as opposed to the 91 so far. Dhanbad had 70 outlets, but 51 government-run stores have been proposed of which only 28 will open tomorrow.

"We signed 28 agreements to run liquor outlets in our district. In the first phase, 15 agreements would be executed from tomorrow. The Ranchi DC gave us 30 employees on contract basis at these outlets," said district's assistant commissioner of excise Uma Shankar Singh.

A senior excise official said the number of outlets would increase in the coming days since a writ petition challenging workforce recruitment at the outlets was quashed by Jharkhand High Court today.

The new regime has hit existing liquor retailers hard, most of whom were running the business since generations. On the last day of their business, most were trying to get rid of their old stock, many offering discounts.

"From tomorrow, we will have to either return bottles to the beverage corporation at procurement prices or sell in the grey market. I feel it is better to get rid of my stock," said a liquor retailer offering up to 40 per cent discount on various brands today.

Jharkhand Wine Retailers' Association convener Ajay Sahu said they needed to explore new avenues in other trades.

Liquor featured in the state unit BJP meeting at Giridih this weekend, with chief minister Das's "complete agreement" on prohibition coming under scrutiny.

As political conjecture on whether this sentiment is inspired by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's newly risen stock in the BJP continues, an excise official said Jharkhand government's move to directly run liquor retail outlets seemed to be the first step in making drinking costlier and more difficult.

The excise department will also give Rs 1 lakh as reward to mukhiyas who ensure complete prohibition in their panchayats. Stringent action would be taken against mukhiyas and panchayat samiti members who do not report illegal liquor business in the areas. They might even lose their posts.

Social outfit Jharkhand Against Corruption today staged a rally in Ranchi demanding total prohibition.