Team Herald
PANJIM: Following the Supreme Court order of February 25, the 3-member committee appointed by the State government to look into the liquor ban issue decided to recommend the renewal of 1021 liquor licences which fall under cluster towns.
The Supreme Court gave State governments the discretion to decide, based on facts, whether areas covered by local self-governing bodies or areas proximate to municipal pockets should be exempted from the Supreme Court’s prohibition of liquor sale within 500 metres of highways. Around 1332 licences in Goa faced the axe due to the Supreme Court ban.
The three-member committee, comprising Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, decided to give relief to 1021 outlets with Wednesday’s decision. “There is order of SC that State government can decide on licences in a category called “sufficiently developed areas” that has proximity to municipalities,” Sardesai told media persons after the meeting.
He said under these guidelines the committee had asked Excise Department to provide the number of licences that fall under such cluster towns.
“The Committee has decided to recommend to the Finance Department to renew 1021 licences which fall under cluster towns,” he said, adding, “In all around 1332 licences are currently facing the axe and with today’s decision we feel around 1021 will be renewed.”
About the remaining 300 plus outlets, Sardesai said those can also be taken into consideration under other categories. “For example many fall under PDA areas and since Mopa has now been announced as a PDA many outlets would be getting a reprieve along the highway there,” he said.
