Chennai: The wait for the clean, FSSAI and MRP compliant Tasmac-attached bars is to get longer as the liquor corporation is yet to float tenders for new bar licences across the State, though the licences for the existing bars cease to be effective with this month.There are 4,058 liquor shops in TN and about 2,500 of them have a bar attached to them. There are about 600 bars in the Chennai region. Most of the Tasmac bars run in total violation of existing rules and fleecing of visitors by overcharging for packaged items is rampant.Though prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh promised that Tasmac-attached bars would be given a makeover and came up with the initiative of setting up Tasmac bars 100m away from shops to release the bars from the clutches of local politicians, the tender for new bar licences has not been floated.The original licence period ended in Dec last year, but the then DMK govt extended the bar licences for six months till June 30. The TVK govt subsequently extended the licence twice for two months each time. Despite the draft conditions for the new tender being finalised in Aug itself, the Tasmac management has been awaiting a nod from the govt to float the tender.Sources in Tasmac have moved the file regarding the Tasmac tender and added that it might be delayed again. “Since the new tender is expected to bring in fresh participants, sufficient time has to be given for them to set up the premises in compliance with conditions. So floating the tender with just a 15-day window will limit the participation,” said the source.Meanwhile, those using the Tasmac bar facility continue to pay above MRP for the time they spend in a poor, unhygienic environment. “In many bars, the tables and chairs are in bad shape and harm visitors. Also, nobody can question their price and quality of food being served,” said S Vinoth, a resident of Guindy.However, neither prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh nor Tasmac managing director K Nanthakumar were available to comment on when the new tenders would be floated. Also, finalising the tender for empty bottle collection has also been delayed, though the bids were opened in the first week of Oct. “The decision on the empty bottle collection bidder is likely to be taken only in the last week,” said Tasmac sources.
