PANAJI: Assuring that the government, within the legal parameters, would extend all help to those affected by the Supreme Court order related to the ban on the liquor outlets along highways, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said the government is presently in the process of preparing documentation as regards the liquor outlets in Goa coming within the ambit of the order of the apex court as well as the state and the national highways here, and is contemplating approaching the SC for proper clarification on its order, and possibly some special consideration for Goa, within two to three months’ time.
“The government feels that Goa deserves a special dispensation from the particular Supreme Court order. However, the decision on the same should come from the Supreme Court itself,” he added.
Addressing media persons at his official city residence, Parrikar said that licences have been issued to approximately 12,000 liquor outlets in Goa, out of which 3,210 are within the distance of 500 mts from the state and the national highways.
“As per the modified March 31 order of the Supreme Court, 1,000 of these liquor outlets, including those in the Porvorim area, would not be affected due to the 220 mts clause, while rest 2,200 would have to pull down their shutters permanently,” he added, pointing out that nearly one-third of these 3,210 liquor outlets would be saved.
Slightly modifying its December 15, 2016 order, the SC has in its March 31 order said the ban on liquor outlets would be within 220 metre of the highways for towns with a population below 20,000.
Parrikar said the government would immediately implement its related action plan during the next 15 days, which would witness issuance of notices to all the liquor outlets by the excise department.
“Those liquor outlets, which are not affected by the Supreme Court order in any way would be able to renew their licences, with the respective village panchayats and municipalities able to carry out the renewal exercise, while those affected by the order will be able to function only as the eateries or restaurants, with no permission to sell liquor or alcoholic drinks,” he mentioned.
The Chief Minister also said that although his government does not intend to formulate any financial assistance scheme for the affected people, it would extend certain relaxations to such people.
“If these people desire to shift their liquor outlets to some other location subject to the permission from the excise department, or transfer their licence in someone else’s name, then the excise department would not levy any charges for the same,” Parrikar announced, declaring that a three-year window period would also be maintained for such purposes. He also assured that the owners of the liquor outlets facing imminent closure would be allowed to sell stock of liquor in their position to any licence holders.
Parrikar stated that he is currently examining all the existing notifications as regard state as well as national highways in Goa, as stretches of many of such highways have not been notified.
“We will soon notify them,” he assured, pointing out that the government is also examining the possibility of de-notifying the state highways.
Furthermore, it was informed that the licence holders namely wholesalers, distributors and distillers of liquor would not come within the ambit of the particular SC order.
Maintaining that revenue-wise his government would not suffer much due to the implementation of the SC order, the Chief Minister said that however, he can see it impacting the livelihood of many people, whose liquor outlets would soon have their licences cancelled.
Assuring that his government is committed to reduce accidents of roads, especially on the highways, Parrikar said that local vendors selling vegetables, fruits and other things along these roads would be prevented from doing so, soon.
“The government intends to create facilities a little away from these roads along with parking spaces, where such vendors would be able to sell their products,” he added, pointing out that at least seven to eight such facilities, with washrooms and eateries would be created around the state before the presentation of the next budget.