the goan I network
PANAJI
The Excise Department has sent a reminder to Town and Country Planning Department (TCP) and Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to certify whether 49 villages in the state are sufficiently developed or not.
In case, TCP and DMA certify that some or all of these villages are sufficiently developed, then the Supreme Court (SC) ban on the sale of alcohol within 500 meters of national and state highways will not be applicable to those villages.
Some of these villages are Dargalim, Tamboxem and Torxem in Pernem Taluka, Sircaim and Assnora in Bardez Taluka, Nanora, Dodamarg and Surla in Bicholim, Morlem and Querim in Sattari Taluka, Velinga and Cundaim in Ponda Taluka, Chandor, Camurlim and Cavorim in Salcete Taluka, etc.
On July 24, the state government had directed the Excise Commissioner to write to TCP and DMA to ask these departments to make an assessment whether 49 villages are sufficiently developed or not. As a result, the Excise Department did write to TCP and DMA on the issue.
A source said, “The Excise Department has not yet heard from DMA and TCP on this issue. Therefore, a reminder has been sent to them. The replies of DMA and TCP will decide the fate of approximately 500-odd liquor vendors in these 49 villages.”
This means that around 500 liquor license in 49 villages were not renewed because they fell within the purview of the SC’s original ban on the sale of alcohol within 500 meters of national and state highways.
However, later, the apex court had given relief by saying that the state governments can decide whether areas in local self-governing bodies and areas close enough to municipal pockets should be exempted from its ban.
After that, the State Government had issued an order to the Excise Commissioner directing him to renew liquor licenses in 54 villages.
But, in the case of 49 additional villages, the government had told the Excise Commissioner to take an opinion of TCP and DMA to decide whether these villages are sufficiently developed or not.
