PONDA: The bill to save city liquor vendors by denotifying city roads from Highways has been passed by government. It will now save around 86 city bar vendors in Ponda but around 248 bars which are located in panchayats in the taluka through which the State and National Highways pass, are a worried lot, as there has been no relief for them.
According to Peter Felix Fernandes, who is a member of the All Goa Bar and Restaurants’ Association and also president of Ponda Bar and Restaurant Owners’ Association, “All the MLAs should have collectively asked the government to take a decision to exempt Goa from the Supreme Court order through an ordinance or by filing petition since Goa is a tourism state and large number of locals depend on this business. The Government has not given much relief, the only respite has been the modifications made by the Supreme Court.”
“Since Goa is a small state, relocation of bars is not an easy task with schools, colleges and shrines all spread over. Further, it is costly to relocate. Bars affected due to State or National Highway passing through panchayat areas will suffer and the government should have seriously thought about them,” he added.
According to Surendra Dulapkar whose bar and restaurant is located in Ponda town said he was a relieved man today following the passing of the bill, more so as for the past four months their licences have lapsed. “I am happy and welcome the decision of Government,” he said.
