The closure of bars and the slowdown it has caused on the market selling daily provisions like, fish, livestock and vegetables is a story untold. The footfall to the wholesale as well as retail fish markets has reduced drastically due to the anticipated closure of bars and the strictures imposed by the Excise Department. The traders are feeling the pinch and have contemplated that it may go on for some more time. On the other hand the sale of cold drinks and fruits is on the rise.
The Supreme Court had ruled out non-renewal of the liquor licences of establishments falling under 500 meters from the Highways of India. This order dropped ‘bombshells’ into commercial and capital towns in the country and the confusion over the interpretation of the orders still remain. This has not just affected the liquor establishments but has also affected all the allied businesses. The sale of livestock, fish and vegetables has reportedly cut down to half and the costs have been on a slide down ever since the order has come to force from April 1.
The bars and restaurants across South Goa purchased around 15 to 18 kgs of fish from the wholesale as well as the SGPDA market. These purchases have reduced to 2 or 5 kgs after the order of SC and its implementation. The demand for chicken is also on a slide down. The demand from 10 to 15 kgs has reduced to 4 to 5 kgs per day. The same situation has been with the vegetables market. The cost of vegetables and live stock has been reduced by the sellers to half but the situation has not improved at all.
Mackerel has gone down from Rs 1000-1200 to Rs500-600 per kg, Prawns prices have reduced from Rs 400 to Rs 250 per kg. All vegetables, including tomato, potato, green peas, coriander, have gone down to half the price.
However, the cross elastic effect of this inflation can be seen on the fruits. Fruits like tender coconuts, watermelons, musk melons have increased by Rs 10 to 15 per piece.
A wholesaler of chicken and fish Raymond Sequeira said, “There was a constant demand for chicken and fish from eight bars and restaurants. Every bar purchased 8 to 10 kgs of fish and nearly 15 kgs of chicken. However, all of them have now reduced their purchase to half. Some 4 to 5 bars have closed down due to the non renewal of their licences.”
Raymond also requested that the Government has to consider this fallout. “Goa is on its way to lose it, ‘Xitt, koddi, nustem’ with the closure of the bars,” said Raymond.
A fish retailer Satish Naik, speaking regarding the slowdown, said “The rate of fish has reduced to such an extent that the price fall has seen a dip from Rs 60 to 70 to even Rs 400 to 500. The markets have reduced to half,” he added.
The closure of liquor establishments may have been a ruling of the SC for safety on road, but the fallout has become a security of the source of living for many. There has been no concrete outcome on any of the turns in the case and implementation and now the state liquor establishments have to only wait and watch what comes out of their hard work.
