PANJIM: Excise Department is awaiting an official communiqué from the State government in connection with a set of options offered to affected liquors traders in a bid to protect their livelihood following the highway liquor ban.
The order will includes the procedure to exempt liquor outlets that fall beyond 220 metres fromt eh highway in city, town and municipal areas with a population of less than 20,000. The renewal of such licences will be carried out thereafter.
“Once we get the State order, Excise Inspectors will be asked to approach the respective local bodies to ascertain the area and population. In the meantime, we are scrutinising our own survey report to identify outlets situated beyond 220 metres in the municipal/village panchayat areas having less than 20,000 population,” a senior Excise Officer told Herald.
Once identified, renewals of licences will be carried out, he said. While the exercise is being chalked out, the department has already begun renewing licenses of alcohol outlets located beyond 500 metres for the current financial year.
