JAIPUR: In a bid to give relief to the hospitality industry , the finance department has reduced basic licence fees up to 50% for bars in hotels, clubs and restaurants . In a notification, it said that the bars which have renewed their licences till September 30 for the full year will be given exemption of 25% of the basic licence fees.
Such licensees have also been given relaxation in payment.
They can now pay the fees in two instalments up to December without interest and additional fees. The exempted amount will be adjusted at the time of renewal of their licence for 2021-2022, the notification said.
Similarly, the department has also extended exemptions to bars which want to renew their licences after October 1 or apply afresh for the full year of the current fiscal. They have now been extended 50% exemption on the basic licence fees and also given relaxation in payment. They have to deposit the fees in two instalments before December 2020.
Sunil Mehta, a hotelier, said that this will encourage more property or restaurant owners to apply for licences. “A lot of people will be encouraged now to renew their licences. We will also do the same at our property,” added Mehta.
However, people in the industry said that those who had renewed their licences till September 30, they will be lose out. “In the first three months, we had no business at all. Instead of giving us higher rate of exemption, the department has given to those who had not renewed the licences,” said a hotelier preferring anonymity.
