Snehal SenguptaKolkata, June 22 -- The West Bengal government on Monday announced that no new liquor licences would be issued within 1 km of educational institutions and places of worship across the state, while prescribing a shorter exclusion zone of 500 metres for areas under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
Presenting the Budget in the Assembly, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said the restriction would apply to fresh liquor licences, with Kolkata being treated separately because of its dense urban layout and the close concentration of schools, colleges, temples, and commercial establishments.
The announcement effectively formalises a two-tier policy on the location of new liquor outlets in Bengal. While the 1-km norm will gov...