PORVORIM: In what could give major relief to hundreds of liquor outlets situated within 500 metres of the State highways, the State government has proposed an amendment to the State Highways Act, which will ensure that the cities are exempted from the highway jurisdiction.
The government has also proposed to Union Ministry for Surface Transport to denotify the National Highway 17B from Verna to Vasco.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar informed the House that the amendment will be introduced on Monday – August 7. “We have and are in process of initiating various measures to ensure that the liquor outlets affected by Supreme Court order gets relief,” he said while replying to demands of the Excise Department.
“We are introducing an amendment to the State Highways Act, which will exempt cities from State highways. The State highways will not be applicable in small cities like Ponda, Curchorem, Sanguem, Bicholim, giving much needed relief to the liquor outlet operators. As per the amendment, the highways will end at the start of the city and recommence once the city boundary ends,” Parrikar said.
The Chief Minister further told the State Assembly that the Supreme Court has recently indicated that its earlier order of December, will not be applicable to cities as the speed limit is slow. “At the same time, we have already denotified the State highways where the bypasses have come up,” he said adding that around 200-300 outlets will get relief.
Parrikar, who holds the Excise portfolio, said that the notification has already been issued instructing the Excise Department that the distance of the liquor outlet from the highways be measured as per travel distance and not an aerial view. “This will give relief to nearly 300-400 outlets,” he stated.
“All these measures will give relief to the liquor operators. Post all the notifications, we will take up the renewal of licences,” he said
