PANJIM: Villagers of Surla in Sattari taluka on Tuesday met the Excise Commissioner requesting that the hearing on cancellation of liquor licences in their village be expedited.

Residents of the village are opposing the continuing or conducting of any liquor trade within the village and demanding revocation of the licences in the interest of the villagers and its youth who they say will fall prey to the evil of alcoholism.

Speaking to media persons after meeting villagers, Excise Commissioner Amit Satija said the villagers have made a fresh request for cancellation of all licences. “The hearing is going on but now they want it to be expedited and cancel all licences immediately,” Satija stated.

The bar owners had approached the department challenging the decision of the panchayat to cancel the licences and permissions were withdrawn after the district collector imposed a ban owing to law and order problem.

Excise Department had thereafter issued the bar owners a show cause notices seeking a reply on why the licences should not be terminated. The villagers have made representations to various departments that liquor is also smuggled in bordering villages.