PANJIM: Though Attorney General Mukul Rohatagi’s statement clarifies that bars and restaurants have been exempted from the highway liquor ban, local traders are awaiting a written communiqué to decide their future course of action.
The Goa Highway Affected Liquor Vendors Association (GHLVA), an umbrella organisation of Goa Liquor Traders Association and the Goa Hotel & Restaurant Owners Association, has decided to stick to its stand of asking the State government to challenge the Supreme Court (SC) order banning liquor sale along highways.
“We are aware of the statement by Rohatagi and Goa AG Saresh Lotlikar but let there be a written communication on this. Neither have we received any letter from the Centre nor from the State. Until then our demand continues,” GHLVA Convener Gaurish Dhond said.
The associations had held a meeting and were unanimous on this decision. Dhond said they will not back out till there is clarity on the SC order.
GHLVA has been demanding that the new State government that will be formed soon, approach the SC to bail out the local liquor business.
Lotlikar in his opinion to the government had said that bars and restaurants which serve liquor for consumption within the premises would not come under the ambit of the Apex Court verdict. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has also said that bar owners need not worry.
However, since the specifics of the order are not yet officially communicated to the Excise Department, the recently-concluded survey has included bars among other liquor outlets in their list of 3127 liquor vends located within 500 metres of National and State highways.
“If bars are not included, we will not issue its owners show cause notices. But there is no letter in this regard as yet,” an officer said.
