Chandigarh: 5 liquor bottling plants sealed, fined ₹10 lakh for fire-safety violation

The action came against M/s Highfield Distillers and Bottlers Pvt Ltd; M/s Oasis Distilleries Ltd; M/s All Aces Distilleries & Bottlers Pvt Ltd; M/s Zannat Beverages Pvt Ltd; and Queen Distilleries & Bottlers Pvt Ltd in Chandigarh

In an unprecedented action, the UT excise and taxation department on Monday sealed five liquor bottling plants and imposed a penalty of ₹10 lakh each for operating without a valid fire safety certificate.

Following a fire at M/s Batra Distilleries Pvt Ltd on October 27 last year, the Chandigarh excise and taxation department had issued notices to bottling plants in the city to submit fire-safety certificates issued by the municipal corporation. However, five plants failed to comply, inviting action. (Reuters file photo)

The action came against M/s Highfield Distillers and Bottlers Pvt Ltd; M/s Oasis Distilleries Ltd; M/s All Aces Distilleries & Bottlers Pvt Ltd; M/s Zannat Beverages Pvt Ltd; and Queen Distilleries & Bottlers Pvt Ltd.

Following a fire at M/s Batra Distilleries Pvt Ltd on October 27 last year, the department had issued notices to bottling plants in the city to submit fire-safety certificates issued by the municipal corporation. However, the aforementioned plants failed to comply, inviting action, the department said in a statement.

The department on Monday also sealed two liquor vends in Sectors 9 and 45 for selling liquor at prices below the prescribed minimum retail sale price.