By Our Special Correspondent

Panaji (Goa) State Government has constituted three Minister Committee to identify and declare certain areas as urban thereby granting protection and relief to the liquor vendors, whose excise licenses were not renewed post Supreme Court order in December 2016. Over 1336 liquor licenses have not been renewed.

The three member committee comprises of Minister for Urban Development Francis D’Souza, Minister for Town and Country Planning Vijay Sardessai and Minister for Revenue Rohan Khaunte.

 The committee has to submit its report with recommendation within 30 days to the State finance department.

The mandate of the committee is to recommend parameters based upon which the areas contiguous with towns and municipalities can be declared as urban areas as similar to municipal towns for the purpose of implementation of the latest Supreme Court order, passed last month.

 It has to also set criteria for grant of licences for liquor sale in such areas.

Supreme Court in its recent order last month has given State governments discretion to decide on whether areas covered by local self governing bodies or areas adjacent to municipal areas should be exempted from its 2016 order banning sale of liquor within 500 meters of highway.