PANJIM: In a first step towards implementing the Supreme Court order on alcohol shops along highways, the taluka-level teams constituted by the Excise Department began on Wednesday the exercise to map liquor outlets, including bars and restaurants, within 500 metres of National and State Highways. The report will be submitted by February 20.
Excise Department is going ahead with the survey of the bars and restaurants even though Advocate General Saresh Lotlikar, in his opinion to the government, said that bars and restaurants which serve liquor for consumption within the premises would not come under the ambit of the Apex Court verdict.
“We have not received any communication from the government based on the AG’s opinion, hence, we are going ahead with the survey of bars and restaurants. The final decision will be taken by the government,” Excise Commissioner Menino D’Souza said.
Each team comprises of officials from the offices of the Mamlatdar, Excise, Public Works Department, and National Highways Authority of India, Directorate of Panchayats/Directorate of Municipal Administration, and Directorate of Settlements and Land Records and other related agencies. The teams are functioning at various locations on the ground and carrying out site inspections to ascertain the distance of the outlets from the highways.
D’Souza said the report would be submitted latest by February 20 to ensure quick implementation of the Supreme Court order. “Once the report is submitted, the same would be placed before the government for final decision, based on which the show cause notices would be issued,” he said.
As per the Excise Department there are nearly 11,000 liquor outlets operational in the State, of which 2,500-3,000 would be affected by the Supreme Court order. As per information, the National and State Highway passes through 150 villages in the State, all would be now mapped to identify liquor outlets within 500 meters.
Meanwhile, the Advocate General had informed the government that the order would apply only to the sale of liquor to be consumed off the premises.
