Ranchi, July 15: Chief minister Madhu Koda today clarified that his new excise policy would aim at ending the monopoly of a “select few” in liquor trade and improving the revenue earnings of the state.

He admitted that state lost several lakh rupees in the recent past because of erroneous excise policy and alleged that his predecessor Arjun Munda was responsible for the sorry state of affairs.

According to sources, the new excise policy has been given a green signal by the chief minister’s secretariat. It will be placed in the cabinet meeting very soon for final approval.

It has been formulated by a committee comprising top bureaucrats like revenue board member, A. K. Mishra, the chief secretary and secretaries of finance and excise departments.

It has been proposed that liquor will also be available in polythene pouches and maximum possible local people would be involved in the liquor business.

This has been strongly objected by former chief minister Arjun Munda. Munda apprehends that hooch tolls will set new records everyday, as polypacks would pave way for “interrupted” sale of spurious liquor in the open market.

He said that the Koda government was more concerned about providing liquor at cheaper prices than making smooth availability of essential commodities.

In the previous arrangement, the entire liquor business was auctioned to a particular merchant, who in turn “sublet” the business to a select few. These are popularly known as liquor syndicate, which not only has its members posted at every retail outlet but also dictates terms to excise officials.

They even deny the common customers to purchase liquors of their choicest brands. These issues were repeatedly raised in the Assembly as well, but to no avail.

Several assembly committees were constituted over the years to probe into complaints of the legislators, smooth availability of different brands of liqour at the retail outlets is yet to be ensured.

“The salesman at the liquor counter is not our employee. We have only rented out that portion to the liquor syndicate. Even for personal use if I ask them for a few bottles of wine, they will treat me like an ordinary customers,” said a shopowner at the Albert Ekka Chowk.

According to the chief minister, the new excise policy aims at bringing an end to the monopoly of liquor syndicates. Like the previous arrangement, liquor shops would be leased out through open bids. And thus, local youths, too, will be getting employment through liquor business.

“The “main business” was leased out to a Chhattisgarh-based trader. A Hazaribagh-based merchant, too, was involved in it. I do not exactly remember their names now. While the Hazaribagh-based merchant is now actively involved in JVM(P) politics and is very close to Babulal Marandi, others are better known for their closeness to Arjun Munda. Therefore, it is for you people to analyse who is patronising the liquor syndicated,” said Koda.