the goan I network
MARGAO
Beleaguered bar owners having their establishments along the NH-17 on Friday knocked the doors of TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai seeking government’s intervention to stop the planned crack down by the excise officials against their trade.
A delegation of the bar owners from Canacona, Balli, Nuvem, Verna and other villages called on the TCP Minister with a plea to save their business and their livelihood as they contended that a circular issued by the Excise Commissioner has mandated the excise inspectors to shut down all bars whose licenses have not been renewed after the Supreme Court order.
The delegation impressed upon the TCP Minster the assurance given by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that he would resolve the issue of bar owners whose establishments are located along the NH-17 in the village.
Prashant Naik explained to the TCP minister that the Chief Minister had assured them that either the government would go to the Supreme Court or would support the bar owners to approach the Apex Court for relaxation of the court order. He, however, lamented that even before the government could take a final call on their future, the excise officials have started issuing warnings to bars which have not renewed their licenses to stop all operations.
“When we questioned the excise inspectors to explain over the sudden action, they claimed that the action comes following the circular issued by the Excise Commissioner”, he said, while exuding confidence that the TCP Minister will take up their cause with the Chief Minister and the Excise Commissioner for an amicable solution to the issue.
The TCP Minster later told The Goan that the government had committed to solve the grievances of the bar owners, expressing surprise that the excise officials have started the exercise even before the government could evolve a solution. “I have told the bar owners that the government would work out a solution. The issue will be taken up with the Chief Minister for a solution”, Sardesai added.
