So far, the Excise and Taxation Department has directed all the local and district level officers to maintain contact with DC's of respective areas and ensure opening of shops in a staggered way with COVID preventive measures.
Under the guidance of CM Captain Amarinder Singh, cabinet meeting is likely to be conducted on May 6 in which ground situation will be reviewed amd assessed, final decision regarding re-opening of thekkas/liquor shops will be taken.
It is to be noted here that due to steepest spike in the coronavirus cases in Punjab, the govt decided not to resume business alike Delhi and other states on May 4, but now, the Excise ad Taxation Department is in full swing to signal a green light for the liquor business. The Excise Department is also planning to start home delivery service of liquor rather only opening of thekkas/shops as a preventive measure to curb the spread of contagious disease, file on the same has been submitted to the CM.
With the proposal of online business of liquor, a Cabinet minister did not agree with the decision of home delivery, hence, sparks another controversy within cabinet before the announcement of final decision.
In order to curb the spread of novel coronavirus and practicing social distancing norm at large, the governmnet has come up with an idea of home delivery service after looking over the tipplers scenario across nation on May 4.