PANJIM: In what could be another big blow to the State tourism industry, the Supreme Court order to ban sale of liquor within 500 metres of highways will also affect the tourist boat cruises on River Mandovi. Surprisingly, while these boats will be affected, the casinos on the same river may not be touched because they are 800 meters from the “highway”.

According to the Excise Department, they are still studying the issue and mapping the boats but prima facie it appears that casinos are beyond the 500-metre line.

“If any casino vessel is within the 500-metre line we will not renew their licence but according to the Google map the first casino is at 800 metres from the Mandovi bridge (which is National Highway 17),” Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza told Herald.

While the offshore casinos could escape the ban, the licences of boat cruises will not be renewed as they are stationed right under the Mandovi bridge.

“We will see what best can be done, right now we have to go as per the law and licences will not be renewed beyond March 31,” D’Souza stated. He, however, said they will have to wait and see if there is any revision of the order.

There are four boat cruises operating in River Mandovi from Santa Monica Jetty namely – GTDC Santa Monica, Madgavkar’s Paradise Cruise, Model’s Coral Cruises and another of former MLA Nirmala Sawant. The sunset cruises are permitted to serve liquor on board by the Excise Department.

Annand Madgavkar of Paradise Group says, it is a ridiculous order and the state government has to step in at the earliest. “I think the order needs to be reviewed. Just like Tamil Nadu did it for Jallikattu we too have to come out with a similar solution,” he told Herald adding, “...and we will be more justified as our economy depends on tourism.”

He, however, agreed that the police must strictly implement the law viz-a-viz drunk driving. “Banning the sale will not serve the purpose. If someone wants to drink, he will always go 500 metres inside and drink,” he stated.

To a query, he said the boat cruise owners will join the National Highway Affected Liquor Vendors in challenging the order. “There is no point fighting separately, we will join the people who are already fighting against it.”