Team Herald
PONDA: Of the 440 liquor outlets in Ponda taluka that come within the 500 meter radius of highways, 361 Bar and Restaurants and 13 wholesalers are likely to be exempted after the State government promised them relief. The remaining ones face closure now.
Mathew Gomes, who is running a liquor shop in Curti and whose outlet comes within the 500 meters limit, is a worried man. “Our shop is old and existing before the contraction of bypass highway. I have liquor stocks but they can be disposed off to any other bar and restaurants in case of notice. We have not yet received notices for closure. We are running our business as usual,” Gomes said.
Another liquor shop owner, who didn’t want to be identified, said, “I am worried and am thinking of converting my shop into a bar and restaurant.”
In Ponda town, all types of liquor outlets got relief from the Supreme Court ban as the municipality has decided to de-notify the State highway passing through the town into internal municipal road. They are now waiting for the Collector’s order to de-notifying The State Highway.
However, Ponda Excise Inspector Amol Harwalkar said, “We have not got yet the government order granting relief or exemption to bars, restaurants and wholesale outlets.”
Meanwhile, Bar and Restaurant Owners President Peter Fernandes said he was happy that the government has assured relief for the bars, restaurants and wholesale outlets. However, he said, he was sorry that small liquor shops did not get the same relief.
