Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to make a statement in the Assembly on Friday on the issue of ban on sale of liquor along highways.
The issue draws importance as the government has less than 10 days in hand to execute the orders of the Supreme Court directing State governments to shut down liquor shops within 500 metres of the highways.
On Wednesday, the Chief Minister held a meeting with the PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar along with the officials of the department. While, the core agenda was the budget allocation discussion, Dhavalikar said that the issue of liquor ban along the highways was also discussed.
“Another meeting will be held within this week to come out with a solution to the problem,” he stated.
Indicating that all options are under consideration, including conversion of highways into main district roads (MDRs), Dhavalikar said, “The Chief Minister has given some matters which we will study and then discuss in the next meeting and come to a final decision.”
However, he said that the Chief Minister will speak on the issue in the Legislative Assembly on Friday when the budget for 2017-18 is presented.
The Goa Liquor Traders Association (GLTA) has demanded that the highways be converted into MDRs and have requested to the Chief Minister to amend the Goa Excise Duty Act, to save the traders from facing a major crisis.
