Prior Policy Superseded:

• Replaces restrictive GR dated 21 August 2017 that allowed inter-district sourcing only for Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, and Thane districts from Palghar & Raigad
• New policy: General permission for all districts, subject to freshness conditions

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6. CLOSED SHOPS — RE-LICENSING AFTER ADULTERATION CLOSURE (Section 1.6)

Scenario:

Shop closed due to proved adulteration (sample found adulterant, license cancelled), later re-licensed

Re-licensing Procedure:

• May be granted via sealed bid-lottery-bid method
• Remaining Cycle Duration: If granted during ongoing 5-year cycle (e.g., June 2023 closure, re-auctioned July 2023), shop receives license for remaining years only (not full 5 years)

Example Timeline:

• Original license issued: FY 2021-22 (valid to 31 August 2026)
• Adulteration detected & shop closed: June 2023
• Shop re-auctioned: July 2023
• New license validity: July 2023 to 31 August 2026 only (residual period)
• Critical: No renewal permitted after 31 August 2026 — must enter fresh bidding cycle

Blacklist Clause:

• Licensees convicted of adulteration are permanently blacklisted
• Cannot participate in future TD-1 bidding for any toddy shop

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7. TODDY PRESERVATION & PACKAGING (Section 1.8)

Problem Identified:

• Toddy SAP (fresh sap from tree) undergoes natural fermentation when exposed to sunlight
• Within 24 hours: Alcohol content increases, acetic acid increases, drinkability diminishes

Research Directive:

Commission research from:

1. Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune
2. National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune
3. Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad

Research Objective: Develop optimal preservation methods through bottled storage at controlled temperatures to extend shelf-life beyond 24 hours

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8. E-LICENSING SYSTEM (Section 1.9)

Online Digitalization Mandate:

Develop computer systems for:

• TD-1 (License/Anujñapti)
• TD-3 (Transport Permit/Vahatuk Paravana)
• TD-5 (Tree-Cutting Permit/Tadi Zhade Chednyacha Paravana)

Implementation:

• All licenses and permits to be issued online (e-licensing)
• Entire approval workflow to be digitalized for transparency and ease of access
• Action to be taken at earliest opportunity

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9. FSSAI FOOD SAFETY REGISTRATION (Section 1.10)

Mandatory Requirement:

After TD-1 license approval, licensees must obtain:

• Registration/License under Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006
• This becomes compulsory condition of TD-1 grant

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10. GEO-TAGGING & COMPUTER TRACKING (Section 1.11)

Implementation Timeline:

Start: Toddy Year 2022-23 (from 1 September 2022)

Scope:

Geo-tag all palm-species trees yielding toddy (coconut palms, palmyra palms, date palms, etc.)

System Functions:

Using Geo-Tagged computerized system, enable real-time tracking of:

1. Tree Location: Exact geographical coordinates of toddy-yielding trees
2. Tree Count: Precise number of tappable trees in each operational zone
3. Toddy Volume: Quantity of toddy extracted from tagged trees
4. Transport Authorization: Digital TD-3 Pass linked to specific tree Geo-Tags
5. Shop Sales: Point-of-sale integration showing toddy sale origin

Enforcement Benefit:

• Eliminates illegal/adulterated toddy — complete supply chain visibility from tree to consumer
• Department gains full control over toddy movement
• Prevents clandestine non-registered toddy distribution

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11. NOMENCLATURE CHANGE (Section 1.12)

Previous Term: Toddy (Tadi)

New Official Term: Palm Wine (in English correspondence)

• Marathi designation remains "Tadi"
• Elevates product status internationally

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12. TRANSITION ARRANGEMENTS — GRACE PERIOD (Section 3)

FY 2020-21 Lingering Licenses:

• End Date: FY 2020-21 expires 31 August 2021
• Bidding Timeline Challenge: Minimum 15-day notice required for sealed bid-lottery-bid process; insufficient time in FY 2020-21 remaining
• Relief: Existing TD-1 licensees from FY 2020-21 granted 1-month grace extension through 30 September 2021
  • Fee charged: Monthly proportionate amount (calculated on FY 2020-21 rate)
  • Permits continued operation during transition

  FY 2021-22 Fresh Bidding:

  • Fresh sealed bid-lottery-bid auctions to commence immediately after 1 September 2021
  • Covers 5-year cycle: FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26
  • All auction, licensing, and renewal processes must be completed during grace period

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  PRIOR ORDERS SUPERSEDED

  The following Government Resolutions are explicitly amended/nullified:

  GR Date	Ref. No.	Subject	Status
  28 Oct 2016	TOD-0615/Pr.Kr.116/RAUSHU-3	Shop distribution norms, one shop per taluka with 1000 trees	SUPERSEDED
  2 Dec 2016	TOD-0615/Pr.Kr.116/RAUSHU-3	Residential eligibility for bid holders	SUPERSEDED
  21 Aug 2017	TOD-0717/Pr.Kr.219/RAUSHU-3	Inter-district sourcing (Mumbai, Thane only)	SUPERSEDED

  All provisions in above GRs are replaced by this new 30 August 2021 policy.

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  DISTRIBUTION & COMPLIANCE

  Authorities Responsible for Implementation:

  1. Chief Minister's Principal Secretary — Policy oversight
  2. Deputy Chief Minister's Special Secretary — Coordination
  3. Special Secretary, State Excise (RAUSHU) — Execution
  4. Commissioner of State Excise, Maharashtra — Operational implementation
  5. All Divisional Commissioners — Regional enforcement
  6. All District Magistrates — Local shop licensing & tree census
  7. All Divisional Deputy Commissioners, State Excise — Permit issuance
  8. All Superintendents, State Excise — Inspection & adulteration control
  9. Food Safety Commissioner — FSSAI coordination

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  IMPORTANT NOTES & SPECIAL PROVISIONS

  Critical Penalties & Enforcement:

  1. Adulteration = Permanent Blacklist: No redemption for convicted licensees; lifetime exclusion from bidding

  2. Disciplinary Action Against Officers: Repeated adulteration in an officer's jurisdiction triggers strict disciplinary proceedings against that officer

  3. No Carryover of 5-Year License: After 5 years, automatic expiry — no automatic renewal into 6th year; must re-bid

  4. Tied Bid Resolution: Lottery only used after sealed-bid stage shows equal highest bids; not alternative to transparent bidding

  5. Maximum Valuation is Absolute Ceiling: No shop can be auctioned above ₹10 lakh; existing high-value shops must be subdivided

     Eligibility Clarifications:

     • Bidders: Must be resident of the district (per earlier GR, continued here)
     • One shop per bidder: Not explicitly stated in this GR but implied by prior orders
     • FSSAI Registration: Mandatory pre-condition to operate after TD-1 issued

     Appeals & Review:

     Not specified in this GR; presumed to follow general Excise Act provisions (appeal to higher Excise authority, then Appellate Commissioner)

     Documentation Requirements for Bidding:

     The GR does not detail bid document requirements; Commissioner's circular (referenced in Section 1.5) expected to specify:

     • Bid form format
     • Earnest Money Deposit
     • Bid submission procedure
     • Lottery draw rules
     • License fee payment schedule

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     FEES SCHEDULE

     No explicit fee amounts stated in this GR.

     The GR references that:

     • First Year: License value determined by sealed bid-lottery-bid auction
     • Years 2–5: Previous year's shop valuation × 1.06 (6% escalation)
     • Maximum Permissible Valuation: ₹10 lakh

     Example calculation (illustrative):

     • If FY 2021-22 shop auctioned at ₹5 lakh:
       • FY 2021-22: ₹5.00 lakh
       • FY 2022-23: ₹5.30 lakh (₹5 lakh + 6%)
       • FY 2023-24: ₹5.618 lakh (₹5.30 lakh + 6%)
       • FY 2024-25: ₹5.955 lakh
       • FY 2025-26: ₹6.313 lakh

       Specific fee schedules to be issued separately in Commissioner's circular.

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       FORMS & ENCLOSURES

       This GR does not detail application forms or enclosures. Separate notification expected to include:

       • TD-1 Application Form (License application)
       • TD-3 Form (Transport permit)
       • TD-5 Form (Tree-cutting permit)
       • Geo-Tagging Registration Form (for tree inventory)
       • Affidavit of non-adulteration (guarantee from licensee)
       • FSSAI Registration Certificate (documentary proof)

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       WHO IS AFFECTED

       Primary Beneficiaries/Subject Parties:

       1. Existing TD-1 Licensees (FY 2020-21): Eligible for 1-month transition grace (to 30 Sept 2021)
       2. New Bidders (FY 2021-22 onwards): Must participate in sealed bid-lottery-bid for 5-year license
       3. Previously Closed Shops (due to adulteration): Can be re-auctioned for remaining cycle duration only
       4. Toddy Tree Owners/Cultivators: Subject to Geo-Tagging from 2022-23
       5. Toddy Consumers: Benefit from adulteration-free supply
       6. District Magistrates: Responsible for shop count, tree census, inter-district approvals
       7. State Excise Officers: Duty to inspect shops, conduct adulteration tests, take disciplinary action
       8. FSSAI: New jurisdiction over toddy shops (food safety compliance)

       Geographic Scope:

       • All toddy-bearing districts of Maharashtra (primarily coastal, Western Ghats, and plain regions with palm cultivation)

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       STATUTORY REFERENCES IN THIS DOCUMENT

       1. Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 — General regulatory framework
       2. Maharashtra Toddy Shops (License Grant) Rules & Tree-Cutting Rules, 1968 — Primary regulation for shop licensing & tree management
       3. Maharashtra Toddy Shops (License Grant by Sealed Bid-Lottery-Bid Method) Order, 2001 — Procedural rules for sealed bidding
       4. Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 — FSSAI registration requirement
       5. Government Notification dated 4 June 2001 (Grah Vibhag) — Earlier sealed bid system introduction
       6. Government Notification dated 9 August 2010 (Grah Vibhag) — Earlier amendments
       7. Commissioner's Circular dated 21 October 2003 — Adulteration testing procedures (Indian Institute of Chemical Technology)

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       CRITICAL DATES TIMELINE

       Event	Date
       New Policy GR Issued	30 August 2021
       Grace Period End (FY 2020-21 licenses)	30 September 2021
       New Policy Implementation Start (FY 2021-22)	1 September 2021
       First 5-Year Cycle Expiry	31 August 2026
       Second Bidding Round (Fresh cycle)	1 September 2026
       Geo-Tagging System Launch	1 September 2022

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       NOTES FOR PRACTITIONERS

       Key Policy Shifts:

       1. From Annual Renewal to 5-Year Bundling: Provides licensee tenure security but requires larger upfront bid
       2. Maximum Cap at ₹10 Lakh: Prevents predatory valuations; redirects competition to service quality rather than rent-seeking
       3. Geo-Tagging: Transformative technology for eradicating clandestine toddy trade
       4. Adulteration Zero-Tolerance: Permanent blacklisting + officer discipline signals state commitment to safety
       5. Inter-District Sourcing Liberalization: Earlier policy was unnecessarily restrictive; new policy balances supply with freshness

       Implementation Risks:

       • Geo-Tagging complexity: Requires coordination across forest, revenue, and excise departments
       • FSSAI Interface: Many small toddy licensees unfamiliar with food safety compliance; training needed
       • Bid Valuation Disputes: Need for clear baseline valuation methodology to prevent litigation
       • Officer Resistance: Blacklisting & disciplinary clauses may face resistance from implementing officers

       Expected Regulatory Follow-up:

       • Commissioner circular on detailed bidding procedures (within 30 days)
       • Separate notification amending 1968 Rules and 2001 Order (within 60 days)
       • Geo-Tagging digital system specifications (within 3 months)
       • FSSAI coordination protocol (ongoing)

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       END OF ANALYSIS

       This Government Resolution represents a comprehensive modernization of Maharashtra's toddy licensing regime, pivoting from fragmented annual procedures to integrated 5-year cycles with technology-driven supply chain transparency and rigorous quality assurance.