Jammu, Feb 07: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday told the Legislative Assembly that there is no proposal to open new wine shops in the Union Territory in the coming financial year.
In a written reply to a question by MLA Arjun Singh Raju, the Finance Department said no new liquor licences are proposed to be issued in Jammu and Kashmir during the next financial year.
The government also placed on record district-wise revenue generated from existing wine shops across Jammu and Kashmir during the last two financial years, 2023–24 and 2024–25.
In the Jammu division, Jammu district generated Rs 48,350.15 lakh in 2023–24 and Rs 50,913.93 lakh in 2024–25. Udhampur recorded revenues of Rs 11,322 lakh and Rs 12,061.50 lakh during the two years, while Kathua generated Rs 10,653 lakh in 2023–24 and Rs 11,272 lakh in 2024–25.
Reasi accounted for Rs 3,371 lakh in 2023–24 and Rs 3,450.50 lakh in 2024–25, Samba Rs 9,138.06 lakh and Rs 9,740.15 lakh, and Doda Rs 2,353.61 lakh and Rs 2,448.17 lakh, the reply said.
Kishtwar generated Rs 1,681.90 lakh in 2023–24 and Rs 1,887.59 lakh in 2024–25, Ramban Rs 2,299.95 lakh and Rs 2,476.70 lakh, Rajouri Rs 4,806.19 lakh and Rs 5,336.96 lakh, and Poonch Rs 1,497.78 lakh and Rs 1,768.92 lakh.
In the Kashmir division, Srinagar recorded revenue of Rs 5,489.67 lakh in 2023–24 and Rs 6,557.66 lakh in 2024–25. Ganderbal generated Rs 223.45 lakh and Rs 319.69 lakh, Baramulla Rs 872.23 lakh and Rs 1,139.84 lakh, Kupwara Rs 415.66 lakh and Rs 442.96 lakh, and Anantnag Rs 1,403.50 lakh and Rs 1,999.50 lakh during the two years.
The government also clarified that no complaints regarding issuance of benami liquor licences have been received so far.
“All liquor licences are issued strictly to domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the provisions of the J&K Excise Act, 1958, and the excise policy notified from time to time,” the reply said.(KNS).
