The Jharkhand government on Thursday modified its earlier order of Monday and allowed opening of bars and liquor shops in municipal areas of six districts that were to remain closed in view of the first phase of Assembly elections in Bengal on Saturday.

According to the earlier order, the whole of six districts — Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum — were to observe dry day for 48 hours from Thursday evening till Saturday evening in view of the first phase of polling in Purulia and some other areas of Jungle Mahal in Bengal.

The Jharkhand Wine Dealers Association had expressed its grievance about the government order on Monday, saying that such restrictions were earlier applicable in only the bordering block because off polling in a neighbouring district of the adjoining state.

Closing down liquor shops in the bordering districts would cause loss of revenue to the government and income to wine dealers, the association had told a section of the media, including The Telegraph.

Jharkhand secretary-cum-excise commissioner Vinay Kumar Chaubey, in a letter on Thursday, directed the deputy commissioners of those districts to allow opening of liquor shops in urban areas, provided they are not too close to the Bengal border.

Such shops in rural areas and also those in urban areas very close to the border have to observe dry days according to the provisions of the People’s Representation Act, 1951, the letter added.

Accordingly, bars and liquor shops located within Ranchi Municipal Corporation and Bundu Nagar Parishad in Ranchi district, Ramgarh Nagar Parishad and cantonment area in Ramgarh, Bokaro Steel City, Chas Municipal Corporation and Bermo Nagar Parishad in Bokaro, Dhanbad Municipal Corporation in Dhanbad, Adityapur Municipal Corporation, Kapali Nagar Parishad and Seraikela Nagar Panchayat in Seraikela-Kharsawan and Jamshedpur Notified Area Council, Mango Municipal Corporation and Jugsalai Nagar Parishad in East Singhbhum district will not require to close from Thursday evening.

“Thanks to the media for highlighting our problem that prompted the state government to reconsider the matter and issue a revised order,” said Achintya Shah, president of the association.

According to the earlier order, Dhanbad along with four other districts — Jamtara, Dumka, Pakur and Sahebganj — will also have to observe dry days during the seventh and eighth phase of the Bengal polls. All the 10 districts are also required to observe dry day on May 2, the day of counting.

“We expect that similar revised orders exempting liquor shops in municipal areas of those districts will also be issued in due course,” Shah said, adding there was enough time left for that.