From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Feb 11: Several thousand Goa’s liquor outlet are waiting with baited breath as State government has begun an exercise to implement Supreme Court judgment cancelling their licences.
The apex court in its judgement in December last year had ordered the closure of the liquor selling outlets which are within 500 metres of national and state highways across the country considering increasing accidents due to drunken driving.
The court judgment will affect Goa the most as the destination is known for cheap liquor.
The excise department officials conceded that of the total 11,000-odd outlets who are licenced by them, at least 3,000 would face closure due to the order. These includes wholesale and also retain selling bars and restaurants.
State which is known tourism destination has several thousand old-time bars, newly furnished restaurants and wholesalers selling liquor. The SC order has plunged the fate of them in darkness.
Excise department begins the exercise
State excise department has begun an exercise to implement the SC order. The department has begun identifying the shops which are within 500 metres of various National and State highways. Goa has NH17 and NH 4A besides the long state highway which crisscrosses through every village.
The roadside bars which were doing brisk business due to their proximity to the road are now cursing their location.
State Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza stated that the each mamlatdar has been asked to furnish the details of the bars and restaurants and wholesale liquor vendors who would be covered under the ambit of the SC judgment.
The department has decided to issue show cause notice to all those bars which are liable to be shut down as per SC order. The order will virtually impact one in the three bars or outlets in the state, which means almost 30 percent of them will face the action.
State Excise Department has decided to cancel licences of all these outlets and not to renew them. This means they will not be able to sell liquor. If they intend to shift away from 500 metres, then they will have to apply afresh to the excise department.
The department would be issuing show cause notices to each of the outlet located within 500 metres of National or State highway before terminating the licences. D’Souza said the hearings would be fast tracked on the show cause notices so that the cancellations can be made by March 31, 2017.
Effect on tourism industry
There is likely to be an impact on tourism industry as several tourists arrive here for cheap liquor. The closing of bars along the highways will also mean they will not have access to the alcohol. This can be a dampener for the tourism industry
Liquor Association stumped, thinking of redressal
Since the time the SC order has been pronounced the liquor vendors’ associations have been approaching the state government expecting some help. But the order came at a time when the state was heading for assembly polls. The associations have now been holding meetings with their members to decide a future course of action.