TASMAC closures, bottle return plan under CM Vijay review

Chief Minister Vijay on Wednesday held a review meeting with officials of the Prohibition and Excise Department at the State Secretariat to discuss issues relating to TASMAC outlets and the implementation of recent policy decisions.
Prohibition and Excise Minister Vignesh participated in the meeting along with senior department officials. Discussions focused on the government’s earlier announcement regarding the closure of 717 TASMAC outlets across Tamil Nadu.
Officials informed the meeting that around 650 shops have been closed so far, while action is yet to be completed for the remaining identified outlets.
The Chief Minister reviewed the progress and sought details on the timeline for completing the closure process.
The meeting also examined issues relating to the collection of Rs.10 per bottle at TASMAC outlets and the proposed system for taking back empty bottles.
Employees have reportedly expressed concerns over the implementation of the bottle return mechanism, and the related challenges were discussed in detail.
The Chief Minister sought information on TASMAC outlets functioning near schools, colleges and temples and reviewed the status of action being taken against such outlets. Officials briefed him on the number of shops that are yet to be closed or relocated.
Important decisions on TASMAC shop closures and the bottle return scheme are expected to be taken in the coming days.