MARGAO: Granting of new liquor trade licences have been put on hold in the commercial town of Margao due to ambiguity over issuance of ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) by the Margao Municipal Council (MMC).
MMC Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik has informed that the municipality cannot issue a NOC for obtaining a liquor license as demanded by the Excise Department.
A look back into the history of procedures revealed that on August 13, 1996 during the Estimates Committee meeting the chief officers of municipal councils complained that the Excise Commissioner was issuing excise licenses to set up bars in municipal areas without obtaining an NOC from the concerned council. As a result, the then Assistant Commissioner of Excise issued an order dated September 18, 1996 asking all Excise Inspectors to seek a NOC from the concerned municipal council whenever anybody applies for excise license. Since then the chief officers have been issuing the NOC and based on that the Excise Department would grant the excise license.
However, Naik has now stopped issuing the NOC on grounds that neither the Municipality Act nor the Bye Laws permit a NOC to be issued. “I am bound by the Act and the bye laws and neither of them states that I should give a NOC. The Excise Department can well consider the trade license that the council issues as a NOC,” Naik stated.
Nevertheless, Excise Inspector Chandrakanth Dessai pointed out that the same Chief Officer has even earlier issued NOC and expressed surprise at the change in stance and pointed out that trade license is issued after obtaining the excise license.
“The trade license is issued to run a bar or a liquor outlet which is issued only after the Excise Department gives its license to sell alcohol. But for us to issue the excise license, we need to have the NOC from the council,” said Dessai reiterating the circumstances which led to the NOCs being issued by the municipal councils.
Naik has written to the Excise Inspector that he can provide information like legality of the premises, what is permitted within that area and the owner of the premises, but cannot issue the NOC.
Till this matter is resolved, applicants find their fate hanging in balance as they are unable to get the excise license and hence cannot start their business.
