PANAJI
The Goa Liquor Traders Association has raised a hue and cry over what they allege is the State government's attempt to grant a retail liquor licence to a trading company from Mumbai at the Manohar international Airport, Mopa.
The Association has objected the move before the Excise Commissioner on Thursday.
The Association's president, Dattaprasad Naik said they learnt of the State government's move to publish a notification relaxing the norms to allow a wine shop at the airport.
"There is prohibition in certain areas where permission can't be granted. But now notification is supposed to come stating that if the Chief Minister wants then he can grant it," Naik said, adding that it is an attack on the existing liquor trading community of Goa which is mostly from the Bahujan Samaj and the minority community.
Naik said, Goa has some 3,000-odd wine shops and another 800 bars and restaurants.
Naik also raised the issue of the new amendment in the Excise rules requiring at least 25-years residence in the State to be eligible for a licence, adding that the new notification will give the Chief Minister power to grant licences to non-Goans.
"Will footfalls of tourists increase if there are wine shops at the airport?" he questioned and said such a licence will benefit one person against the collective sale and interest of over 3,000 Goans.
Naik also said that over the last 10 years the excise duty has gradually increased and robbed Goa of the distinct advantage of lower retail cost, especially in comparison with North Indian States.
"Now we are at the mercy of a few South Indian States. North Indian tourists don't buy from us due to the rate difference," Naik said.
He also recalled that in a similar case back in 2012, a Mumbai business was given license at Dabolim airport which was later cancelled after illegalities were brought to notice of then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
"Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had promised in the last Assembly session to bring down duty on foreign liquor. But so far nothing has happened," he said.
"This is nothing but cartelization like what happened in the Delhi liquor scam. The deputy Chief Minister of Delhi has been sent behind bars on the same issue, as he tried to benefit certain people. Isn't this, what is happening here, the cartelisation," he questioned, adding that the association objects to diverting business to a single person.
