the goan I network
VALPOI
All eight liquor stores in Surla-Sattari were sealed by excise officials on Friday, amid reports that liquor bottles from a car near one liquor store in the village had recently been seized by a Karnataka excise team.
Despite the closure of all liquor stores in Surla following government directives, there were reports that liquor was being illegally sold on some stores.
Taking serious note of the claims, the excise commissioner on Thursday directed excise officials to seal all liquor stores in Surla. Acting on the instructions, an excise team led by Excise Inspector Vibhuti Shetye sealed all the 8 liquor stores in Surla village on Friday.
When contacted, Shetye said the action was initiated following directions from the excise commissioner.
“Stocks from all liquor stores were inspected before the stores were sealed. There will be a continuous watch on these liquor stores to prevent any illegal sale of liquor from these stores,” Shetye said.
Local from Surla have been up in arms against the many liquor stores in the village, after complaining that visitors and tourists would consume alcohol and cause a nuisance in the area.
After many agitations and a resolution at a special Gram Sabha of the Thane Dongurli panchayat, the government accepted their demands and suspended the licences of seven liquor traders in Surla village.
The North Goa collectorate had initially issued an order to shut down all liquor stores in Surla for 30 days and the order was further extended by 3 months.
The Thane panchayat had also revoked the no-objection certificate issued to the liquor stores and the excise department later revoked all licences issued to the liquor stores.
Despite the suspension of licences, some liquor store owners had been accused of illegally selling alcohol in the village.
The Karnataka excise staff on Wednesday raided a Maharashtra-registered vehicle and seized liquor from the occupants.
According to sources, the car had been seen near a liquor store in Surla. The Karnataka excise staff was tipped and the car was intercepted. Liquor bottles and cans
were found in the vehicle and were later seized by the
excise team.
