Panaji: The Goa Liquor Traders Association submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday, requesting him to denotify the existing State highways to major district roads and grant a one-year time duration to all the affected liquor shops to relocate.
The plea was in response to a Supreme Court judgement that banned liquor shops within 500 metres of highways.
Later, speaking to reporters, Dattaprasad Naik, president of the association, said if the government takes this step, as many as 400 of the 789 liquor shops identified by the State multi-department committee, whose excise licenses are not be renewed, will get relief.
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The association has also asked for relaxation in fees and transfer formalities to the affected outlets.
The memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister claimed that the SC judgement does not specify whether the distance of 500 metres is to be measured by radius or a perpendicular line drawn from the edge of the highway.
“We, therefore, humbly request you to measure the distance of the liquor shops by ‘accessible road’ from the highway to the outlets. This will give relief to over 100 shops across Goa,” the memorandum read.
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The association also urged the Chief Minister to file a review petition in the Supreme Court and try to get relief to the affected outlets.
It also pointed out that Vasco in South Goa is surrounded by NH 17A and NH17B highways, as a result of which, not a single shop in the city would remain operational.
The multi-department committee headed by State Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza will serve notices to 3,200 liquor license holders. The committee has also identified 286 restaurants and 789 liquor shops, which would face the music if the SC order is implemented from April 1.
Mr. D’Souza told The Hindu on Friday that the department was awaiting a nod from the government for issuing notices of non-renewal of licenses to all the identified establishments.