PANJIM: The North District Administration has imposed a temporary ban on the sale and serving of alcohol in the jurisdiction of Taleigao Village Panchayat (VP) anticipating it could be used to lure the voters ahead of the election slated on April 28, Sunday.
The North District Magistrate and the District Election Officer (DEO) R Menaka on Friday asked the liquor outlets to shut their operations till Monday evening. “All the licensed liquor shops/ Bars & restaurants, pubs, food joints, shacks, etc serving or selling liquor within the jurisdiction of VP Taleigao in Tiswadi taluka and VP of Ona-Maulinguem-Kudchirem in Bicholim taluka in North Goa District are prohibited from selling or serving liquor for the period commencing from 5pm on April 26 to 6pm on April 29,” reads the order.
On Sunday, general election to the wards from 1 to XI of Taleigao VP and by-election to the ward number VI of Ona-Maulinguem-Kudchirem in Bicholim will be held.
The order explains that Bar & Restaurants are allowed to keep their restaurant open to serve “food only” while the bar counter has to be shut. The owners of these licensed premises are asked to display a board stating, ‘no liquor will be served on the said days and time and that only the restaurant is open for serving food.’
The flying squads of the excise department, police and other related departments are directed to maintain strict vigil to ensure strict compliance of the order. The DEO has anticipated that liquor could be misused to influence the voters by the candidates and/or political parties during the election process. The DEO further states, “in order to ensure free, fair, peaceful and orderly conduct of the election process and to prevent obstructions, annoyance or injury or disturbance of public tranquility or riot or any affray during the electioneering period, it is felt that the timing of the sale of liquor needs to be properly regulated and curtailed.”
