Panaji: By conceding the demand of liquor traders and restaurants to measure the 500-metre distance from highways from the nearest approach road instead of the ‘aerial’ or ‘as-the-crow-flies distance’ method, the government has agreed to offer a major relief from the Supreme Court ban, said Dattaprasad Naik, president of Goa Liquor Traders’ Association, on Thursday.
Goa has been the least-affected State with only around 18% of its liquor outlets going out of business due to the order. Of over 11,000 outlets and restaurants, 3,210 were affected on April 1 when the excise department did not renew their licences, Mr. Naik told reporters. Subsequently, the relaxation of the 220-metre rule in some parts gave a new lease of life to around 1,100 licensees, and as of now, nearly 2,100 liquor shops and 12 restaurants have been without licences.
He said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar issued directions to the excise department on the change in measurement method on Thursday.
Mr. Naik, accompanied by office-bearers of All Goa Bar and Restaurant Owners Association, appealed to the State Excise Commissioner to implement the decision as early as possible for conducting a re-survey so that over 500 liquor traders and some restaurant owners could get their licences renewed. The decision is expected to benefit liquor traders in Panaji, Margao, Vasco, Ponda, and a few other towns.
As regards Margao, Ponda, Valpoi, Cuncolim, Canacona and Vasco, Mr. Naik said the Public Works Department has already moved to de-notify state highways in municipal towns, so that another 700 outlets get permission to restart their businesses within another month. He said eventually only around 1,000 shops will be closed.
Mr. Naik exuded confidence that the Parrikar government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court over the ban.
No communication
When contacted, Goa Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza told The Hindu that he has so far not received anything in this regard.
