Team Herald
PANJIM: Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed to the government to denotify highways within city limits.
The proposal has been made to provide relief to liquor business activities that were closed due to the Supreme Court orders earlier this year.
Sources said that the department has proposed to denotify the State and National highways passing through Margao, Vasco, Ponda, Mapusa and Canacona. The source further said that the file is before the Chief Minister and an approval is expected soon.
May 31 marked two months of the implementation of the Apex Court’s judgement, which led to all liquor vends within 500 meters of State and National highways shutting from April 1.
Reacting to the development, President of All Goa Liquor Traders Association (AGLTA) Dattaprasad Naik said that the liquor industry in Goa has faith in the Chief Minister and are certain of sailing through the problems.
He said, “If the roads within the city limits are denotified then a major chunk of those affected will get relief. With this decision more than 80 percent of the traders will get relief including those who have benefited already. Only a small number of traders will remain, which are hopeful that the Chief Minister will find a solution and relief will be provided to all.”
Responding to a question on the promise to file a review petition, he said that the month of June is yet to end and as per the promise of Manohar Parrikar, the traders expect that a step in this direction would be taken in mid-June.
