Demand for more liqour shops: Renukacharya

BANGALORE: Excise Minister M P Renukacharya on Tuesday said that there was a demand for 3,000 new liquor shops in the state.Speaking to reporters here, Renukacharya said that the demand for liquor shops had increased following a ban on the sale and use of arrack in the state. Though there was a demand, the state government had not taken any decision whether or not to give license to the new liquor shops. “I will soon discuss the issue with the chief minister and the officials,” he added.Similarly, there was a demand for 13 lakh litres of rectified spirit from various companies. The government has set up a three member high-level committee led by Jayanth of Indian Institute of Science to select the applicants for the allotment of spirit. The department had announced to open 463 outlets through the Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) to sell liquor of which 251 have already opened, the minister added.