Mysuru, May 19 -- Industry plans shutdown; Final call after meeting with Chief Minister on May 21

After repeated hikes in excise duties and licence fees over the past two years, the Congress-led State Government on Friday issued a preliminary gazette notification proposing up to a 100 percent increase in licence fees for distilleries, breweries and alcohol-selling establishments across Karnataka.

The revised fees are slated to take effect from July 1.

The notification has invited objections from stakeholders, who must submit their responses to the Principal Secretary of the Finance Department at Vidhana Soudha within seven days. The Government aims to generate an additional Rs. 600 crore annually through this revision.

In protest, tho...