PANJIM: The Congress has decided to raise the issue of the Supreme Court order banning liquor outlets within 500 meters of highways and of the Mhadei River water diversion on the Floor of the House on Tuesday, while demanding to know the government’s stand on both the issues.
“We want to know the government’s stand on the Supreme Court order banning all kinds of liquor outlets within 500 meters of national and state highways from March 31. The deadline is nearing. Either the government or Governor Mridula Sinha should make a statement (on behalf of government),” Congress Legislative Party (CLP) spokesperson MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco said.
“If the government fails to do so, I will disrupt the House, will come to the well of the House. The matter is very serious, it will affect the livelihood of thousands of people,” he stated.
Though, the State government has expressed support to the liquor traders, it is reluctant to approach the Apex Court seeking relaxation and has opined that traders file a review petition which the government will support.
Congress has also sought to know the stand of the State government on the Central Government move to set up an Inter-State River Water Dispute for the entire country. “I want to raise the Mhadei issue on the Floor of the House. I want to know what the government is doing, there are several issues,” Leader of the Opposition Pratapsing Rane said.
The extended term of Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT), involving Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra on the water diversion issue will end on August 21, 2017. Though, the State has already informed the Union government to exclude MWDT from its proposal of setting up of Inter-State River Water Dispute, it has not yet received any response.
The Centre also recently denied permission to Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni to represent Goa before MWDT.
