Shahi Parvani causes crores of losses for bars and liquor industries in Nashik

The four-day long ban on functioning of liquor shops and bars across Nashik city from 27th to 30th August has caused crores of losses for the industry.

Sanjay Chavan, the president of the Association of Bars, Hotels, Restaurants (ABHAR), view on the first day of Shahi Parvani day, said that he was planning to move the high court against the police and district administrations for mismanagement, reported ET.

"Wrong management by both the district and the police administration has affected businesses of all establishments. The total business losses on Saturday (Shahi Snan) were estimated at Rs 500 crore. Since the pilgrims could not come to the city as police had barricaded all roads towards Ramkund, what was the point closing all shops? Moreover, there was no need to announce four dry days for liquor shops and bars. Just one dry day on the Shahi Parvani day on August 29 would have been more than enough. We are planning to move the high court against the administrations on the issue,” said Chavan.

Industries and business establishments across Nashik, barring liquor shops and bars, resumed operations on Sunday following the first Shahi Snan of the Kumbh Mela.

As per industry sources, business losses suffered by local businesses, including retail shops, liquor shops, bars and petrol pumps, were estimated at Rs 250 crore on the Parvani day when all businesses, barring hotels, restaurants and eateries, downed their shutters in view of barricading of most roads by the city police.

Liquor shops and bars in the city have suffered losses to the tune of Rs 10 crore in past four days in view of the dry days announced by the district administration from Thursday to Sunday for the first Shahi Snan.

In spite of a Sunday, industries in Satpur and Ambad industrial estate and most shops, barring wholesale markets, reopened on Sunday.

President of the Nashik Industries & Manufacturers' Association Sanjiv Narang said, "Industries in Satpur and Ambad industrial estates of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) stopped operations from the second shift 4pm onwards on Friday. All industries started functioning from Sunday morning."

Petrol pumps across the city, which also closed down on the two days for lack of any vehicular traffic on the city roads, also resumed operations on Sunday.

Tehsin Khan, committee member of the Nashik District Petrol Dealers' Association said, "There was no vehicular traffic in the city on the first Shahi Snan day on Saturday. Hence, there was no point in opening the pumps. Only four pumps were kept open to supply fuel to the buses of the state transport."