CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) will increase the maximum retail price (MRP) of all liquor varieties in the state by Rs 10 from November 1 by adding an environment cess to the existing price. However, consumers can get the additional amount reimbursed by returning empty liquor bottles.Tasmac has issued a detailed circular to liquor manufacturers, depots, district managers and staff at retail vending shops, outlining how the new system should be implemented. With the latest directions, the empty bottle collection scheme will finally be launched in three Tasmac districts in Chennai and five other districts where it could not be implemented earlier due to opposition from retail workers.It may be recalled that state prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh introduced a Bill to levy an environment cess of up to Rs 20 on liquor prices, which was subsequently passed by the Assembly. “The decision to add environment cess was taken following complaints that consumers are being fleeced and forced to pay above MRP in the name of empty bottle collection,” Vignesh said.Under the new system, sales staff at Tasmac outlets cannot charge consumers more than the revised MRP by citing the empty bottle collection scheme, as the additional Rs 10 has already been included as an environment cess. However, they must accept empty liquor bottles and refund Rs 10 to consumers.“Any collection above the MRP will be treated as an unauthorised collection and serious disciplinary action will follow on such complaints,” the circular warned.Tasmac officials in all five regions have been asked to coordinate with banks where the corporation maintains its official accounts to ensure the availability of Rs 10 notes and coins for easy reimbursement.The collection of empty bottles will be handled by staff deployed at each liquor outlet, with the bottles to be handed over to approved vendors until a reverse vendor is finalised through a tender process.As an interim arrangement, each liquor outlet within Chennai corporation limits will receive up to Rs 2,000 per day to manage the additional work. Outlets in other municipal corporations will receive Rs 1,800 per day, while those in municipalities and town panchayats will get Rs 1,600. Shops in village panchayats will receive Rs 1,500 per day.“The reimbursement charges will be met out of the cess and the district managers should maintain the records,” the circular said.Consumers can return empty bottles at any Tasmac outlet and need not visit the shop where they purchased the liquor.D Dhanasekaran, general secretary of the Tasmac Workers’ Association affiliated to AITUC, said the new system could not be implemented at such short notice.“The system could have been implemented after the reverse vendor of empty bottles is finalised, so that the workers will not be burdened with additional work. Rs 2,000 per day will not be enough we have meet the expenditure of additional manpower and rent for the premises to store bottles,” he said.
