A new report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found that the AAP government’s liquor policy in Delhi resulted in a financial setback, causing a revenue loss of Rs 2,002 crore. The policy, which was intended to reshape the city’s liquor retail sector, instead resulted in a shortfall due to regulatory missteps and ineffective oversight.
The AAP government introduced the policy with the goal of shifting liquor sales to private vendors while simultaneously boosting tax revenue through excise duties. However, as the CAG report points out, this shift was not accompanied by adequate monitoring or enforcement mechanisms. As a result, the government faced severe revenue losses and the rise of illegal liquor trade, which went unchecked.
Critics argue that the policy’s failure to properly regulate the industry and ensure transparency has led to a significant financial loss for the city. The Delhi government is under increasing pressure to address these issues and revise the policy in light of the findings. Despite these challenges, the AAP government maintains that the policy was introduced with good intentions and that its long-term benefits will outweigh the current setbacks.
