PANJIM: The State government has assured to provide relief to over 1000 liquor outlets which are still closed in view of the Supreme Court’s ban on sale of liquor along highways. The recently formed three-member committee of ministers will categorise such liquor vends to give them relief.
“There are 1,332 people who are affected by the highway liquor ban. We are going to meet next Wednesday and sort it out by category, like the ones which are closest to city, sufficient developed areas, etc. We will bank on the census to decide these categories. We are meeting next week and ensure that most of the people get justice,” Committee member Vijai Sardesai said after a preliminary meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
He further said that the committee shares the concern of the bar owners. “We believe that they are Goans and they have been in this activity for long and it is their bread and butter. We are sympathetic towards them,” he added.
Last week the State had formed a committee comprising Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza as Chairman, and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte as members to find ways to help liquor outlets which are shut due to the SC order.
Sardesai said that the initial SC order on December 15, 2016 had affected more than 3,000 outlets which were brought down to 1,332 through various measures taken within the legal parameters. “SC has modified the order allowing municipal areas and four categories where they can get relief. We have criteria where we can categorise,” he added.
D’Souza said that the committee will act as per the SC guidelines. “We will not violate SC guidelines but will fit their cases within the guidelines,” he said.
The government had constituted the committee to examine the decision of the SC, more particular in respect to the order on February 23, 2018 and to recommend the parameters based on which areas could be declared as similar to municipal towns, as well as for the purpose of implementing the judgment pronounced on December 15, 2016 and the criteria for grant of license for retail sale of liquor in such areas. The committee’s recommendations would be submitted to the Finance Department within a period of 30 days. Once approved by the Finance Department their licenses will also be renewed, sources said.
