Officials in the national capital of India have imposed a “special corona fee” — a 70 percent tax on retail liquor purchases as authorities loosened a strict six-week lockdown.
New Delhi’s tax is meant to discourage large gatherings, after locals flocked to liquor stores when they reopened Monday for the first time.
Baton-wielding police can be seen in photos trying to keep order to hundreds of liquor-craving locals, many wearing masks, returning to the liquor stores.
In response, the Delhi state government announce the “special corona fee” on booze purchases late Monday.
“It was unfortunate that chaos was seen at some shops in Delhi,” said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“If we come to know about violations of social distancing and other norms from any area, then we will have to seal the area and revoke the relaxations there,” Kejriwal said.
Taxes on alcohol on a main contributor to the revenue of many of India’s 36 states and federal territories – most of which have been economically crippled due to the global pandemic.
Others states, including Andhra Pradesh, where people violated social distancing measures to get their alcohol fix, also raised prices.
India recorded 3,900 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, making it the country’s highest single day increase and bringing the total COVID-19 caseload to more than 46,000.
More than 1,500 people in India have died as a result of the contagion, the health ministry said.
The daily increase in cases shows that India remains at risk despite the severe lockdown that has kept the country’s 1.3 billion inside since late March, health experts said.
“The curve has not shown a downward trend. That is cause for concern,” said Dr. Randeep Guleria, the director of New Delhi’s All-India Institute of Medical Sciences.
With Post wires
