THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that successive governments including the Congress had been granting permissions to liquor outlets falling within a 100-mtr radius of educational and religious institutions.
Rubbishing allegations that his government permits liquor outlets within this zone, CM told reporters that the 1980 notification was being followed by successive governments.
“This regulation has been in place since 1980. Successive governments including Congress have granted permissions on a case-by-case basis. The opposition leaders, who are now pointing fingers at us, were in past governments when case-to-case permissions were granted,” he said.
The CM further revealed that the 1980 Circular has bestowed powers to the government to decide on such applications. “…There were proposals for outlets which were located in close vicinity of a Cross or ghumti, etc. We are not granting any new permission but only imposing heavier fees. Rest everything remains the same in the new notification,” he added.
Sawant clarified that he has introduced higher fees to deter the operation and setting up of new liquor outlets in these sensitive areas. “I have created a hurdle by doubling the fees of those in these areas so that people are discouraged from operating,” he said while quickly mentioning that no permission is granted in his constituency.
