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THE GOAN NETWORK
VALPOI
Fearing loss of livelihood, eight liquor dealers from Surla have requested the government not to cancel their licences, in view of unruly visitors drinking at the site and causing a nuisance. They have, instead, demanded a police outpost in the area.
Their U-turn comes barely a day after they had attended a meeting by angry villagers on Sunday demanding a complete halt on liqour sales in Surla after complaining that visitors from Karnataka were consuming alcohol in Surla and causing a nuisance in the village.
According to sources, the eight liquor dealers met local MLA Pratapsing Rane and requested that their licences and businesses be retained, as the livelihood of eight families was dependent on the business.
Admitting that there were some visitors who were causing nuisance in the village, the liquor dealers suggested that a police outpost be set up in the village to tackle the nuisance caused by these rowdy visitors.
Sources said the Poriem MLA declined to given them any assurance and told them that any decision on whether or not to stop liquor sales would be be taken by the state government.
Rane made it clear to the liquor dealers that he would not tolerate any indiscipline among visitors which would lead to tensions and other law and order problems in the village.
He also informed the dealers that if the villagers insisted on shutting down the liqour sales in the village, he would forward their request to the state government for necessary action.
Panch member Suryakant Gaonkar, local youth activist Pandurang Gaonkar, Ajit Gaonkar and others had presented a memorandum to Pratapsing Rane, demanding serious attention to the issue.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane also expressed displeasure over the nuisance caused by boisterous visitors from Karnataka, after patronising the bars in Surla village.
He has assured to meet the Chief Minister in this regard, so that the issue is resolved and villagers do not face hardships on account of rowdy visitors.
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