Chennai: With the spread of Covid-19 coming under control in Chennai, State-run TASMAC liquor shops, which are shut since March, are expected to be reopened during the first week of August.
According to sources, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will take a decision in this regard after discussing with senior Ministers and officials.
Considering that the number of cases in Chennai has started dipping over the last several days, people of this teeming megapolis expect that the Chief Minister would come out with more relaxations.
Another aspect which was been keenly awaited by the tipplers was on re-opening of State-owned TASMAC liquor shops, which were closed in areas coming under Greater Chennai Police limits, in view of the massive increase in cases.
Now that there has been a dip in cases, tipplers hope that liquor shops would be re-opened at least in non-containment zones by following all safety precautions, including by maintaining social distancing.
Till date, several tipplers were getting their daily quota in black market or by crossing the district borders, where brisk sales were reported and it touched high on Saturdays in view of the Sundays total lockdown.
Sales from liquor was one of the major revenue earners for the State government, which crossed Rs 30,000 crore last year.