Bar owners have decided to run their establishments from Tuesday, two days after given the green signal, amid indications that the state government would look into demands of exempting license fees for the months they were without business because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Bars across the state were under closure from March. State government allowed its reopening from November 3, much after other traders were unlocked. However, bar owners continued to remain shutdown to demand relaxation in the annual license fee. Close to 50 licensed bars are there in Ranchi while in the state there are over 150.

Annually, the state excise department charges Rs 9 lakh from each bar for license renewal but the bar owners demanded waivers from March-end till October 31 citing closure. On Monday, state excise department secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey held a meeting with the Jharkhand Bar and Restaurant Association (JBRA) after which he assured them of relaxation but sought time till the proposal is cleared by the state government.

JBRA expressed content with the department’s move post which they decided to return back to the business.

Ranjan Kumar, president of JBRA in a statement on Monday night announced the reopening of the bars. “All the bars across Jharkhand will be reopening from Tuesday after the government assured to waive 50% license fee. We will now have to pay Rs 4.50 lakh against Rs 9 lakh. However, those who have already paid or need to pay this year’s license fee need to shell out the entire amount which will be adjusted during the next renewal as per the understanding with the excise department,” said Kumar.

He added that while all the restaurants were already operating with heightened COVID-19 safety norms and maintaining social distance rules at their facilities, bars will adhere to all the prescribed guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Established safety norms like social distancing between the seats, provision of sanitizers, mandatory use of masks and gloves wherever required, among other parameters, will be followed by all the bars,” said Kumar.

State excise minister Jagarnath Mahto is currently battling COVID-19 and is under treatment in Chennai. Soon he is expected to undergo a lung transplant. Excise department secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey said that the talks remained positive and they will send a proposal for the license fee waiver for cabinet nod soon.