VALPOI: All the liquor bars in Surla, within the Thane Dongurli panchayat area of Sattari Taluka, are prohibited from selling liquor and all type of alcoholic beverages or packed bottles from July 20 onwards for a period of 30 days.
Surla villagers, who have been agitating against liquor menace, on Thursday, won a battle of sorts with the North Goa collector prohibiting the sale of liquor in the area for the next 30 days starting on Friday.
North Goa Collector Levinson Martins issued an ex-parte order prohibiting all liquor bars, shops, pubs, clubs, provision store or any other establishment within Thane Dongurli Panchayat area of Sattari Taluka from selling liquor or alcoholic beverage in retail or packed bottles or cans from July 20 onwards for a period of 30 days.
“Licence of the establishment contravening the order is liable to be cancelled and the owner will be liable for penal action,” the order warned.
The villagers were demanding closure of all the bars in the village as they were reportedly being troubled by tourists mainly from neighbouring states by creating ruckus, large scale menace and annoyance in the village. Women of the village were in the forefront of the battle against bars as they faced maximum brunt due to the menace. Tourists visited the village mainly for drinking liquor which is cheaper than the neighbouring states.
On Thursday, the Sattari Taluka Mamlatdar held a special meeting in his chamber with Surla villagers, liquor bars owners, Mhadei Wildlife, RFO, Excise Department and Valpoi Police Department to discuss the issue of liquor bars.
All Surla villagers stuck to their demand to close down all the eight liquor outlets which are operating for the past 15 years.
The Mamlatdar told the Valpoi Police Department, Excise Department and Forest Department to carry on their duty properly and control the nuisances and crimes in Surla.
“For the past 15 years tourists, especially from Karnataka, come to Surla, get drunk and abuse women. After holding many meetings the villagers told the bar owners to control the abuse, but they did not listen to them. Also nine murders have taken place in the past decade,” said Pandurang Gaonkar, a villager.
