Resolve issues or face flak: Bar owners

MARGAO: The All Goa Bar and Restaurant Owners Association at its meeting at Fatorda on Tuesday "served" the government a deadline till April 30 to come up with some concrete steps to address their grievances failing which they have threatened to take to the streets and even organize a bandh at Margao, if necessary.

Agitated bar owners from Salcete had gathered at the Our Lady of Rosary hall, Fatorda to put forward their grievances accusing the government of only paying lip service to their woes while using the British policy of divide and rule amongst them.

They pointed out that the relaxation to 220 metres from the Highway had taken away nearly 1000 of the total 3200 liquor vendors originally affected and said this was trying to divide the affected people. They further accused the government of trying to "harass" the affected people by not taking any steps for over a month hoping that the movement will die a natural death.

Advocate Amit Palekar admitted that the government’s moves appear to be suspicious as till date no action has been taken by it despite promising to do something. Taking a dig at TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai he said that it was lamentable that MLAs did not meet the bar owners despite giving them an appointment and wondered whether the government was really serious about helping the bar owners.

Some of those present, raised various issues like the closure of old bars which were more than 50 years old while the continuance of new ones which are not even 20 years old. They also suggested that the association meet the opposition if the government is not doing anything to help them.

Some of those present pressed for an agitation and said they were willing to come on to the streets with their wives and children. Palekar advised them to get as much as support as they could gain specially from the vendors in the market as nearly 60 per cent of their business is affected due to the closure of the bars.

One bar owner from St Jose de Areal sought to know the exact demarcation of State Highway No 8. However, he was told that the government had promised to de-notify the State highways, which has not yet happened. 

Besides, it was pointed out that de-notification after the Supreme Court order is already under challenge before the Apex court.

However, Amit Palekar asserted that Goa government should file a review petition and plead exemption for Goa on grounds that Goa has taken sufficient steps to ensure that there is no drunken driving. To prove his point, he said last year of the 316 fatal accidents recorded in Goa only two were due to drunken driving and both were self accidents.