19 Feb 2017 | 03:26am IST
Who gave licences within 100 mts of highways: The Govt
Excise Department amended Act to ban sale of licence within 100 mts of highways, with loophole that government could grant such licence; hundreds of outlets were granted licences due to political pressure since 2012
PANJIM: The Supreme Court ban on sale of liquor will hit the tourism industry and businesses badly. However, investigations reveal that the State government could have minimised the impact of the ban had it adhered to its own rules.
Herald has accessed papers which suggest that the State government’s Department of Finance (Revenue and Control Division), citing the case in Supreme Court, had issued an amendment to the notification as early as 2015 and 2016 to ban sale of liquor on highways.
The amendment to the notification, issued by Under Secretary Ajit Pawaskar, dated and no. 02/10/2012-Fin (R&C)/PartII/663 clearly says no licences would be granted to liquor outlets on highways.
The amendment to the rule 90 of the Goa Daman and Diu Excise Duty rules 1964, in sub-rule (4) said, “No licence shall be granted to an applicant for sale of liquor if the premises in which he proposes to open shop is located on a State Highway or a National highway.” It further says, “Provided that a licence may be granted by the Commissioner with prior approval of the government subject to such conditions as the Commissioner may deem fit to impose in this regard – to open a liquor shop.”
The conditions set were, “If such liquor shop is located beyond 100 metres from the centre of the State highway or the national highway and such liquor shop or hoarding are not visible from the highway or national highway.”
Sources in the Excise Department state that while the amendment notification came in 2015 and 2016, the department was strictly implementing the rule since 2012.
“However, many times the department was overruled by government interventions and the licences were finally granted due to political pressure,” say Excise officials adding, “Hundreds of licences were granted by the government bypassing the department.”
When contacted Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza said his department has been strictly implementing the rule and no licences were granted within 100 metres of highways. “But the Supreme Court ban is for within 500 metres which we had never anticipated,” he said.
Asked whether the government pressurised the department to grant licences within the 100 metres, he said, “I don’t think so.”
Around 8000 liquor outlets including hotels, bar and restaurants could face the brunt of the SC ban if it is implemented.
