Panaji (Goa): The liquor traders in the state today claimed that State chief minister Manohar Parrikar has assured them to amend the Excise law which will save several liquor outlets from being closed due to the Supreme court order.

“The Chief Minister has assured that he will direct State Excise Department to amend the excise act so that the distance between Highway and the bars would be measured by approachable road and not aerial distance,” All Goa Liquor Traders Association President Dattaprasad Naik told reporters today.

The apex court in its recent directives had banned the liquor shops within 500 metres of the highway in municipal towns and 220 metres in the villages.

Naik said that impact on Goa compared to other states was minimal as only 18 per cent of the total liquor outlets were closed. “The impact was cushioned as State government worked out ways to save the liquor shops from getting affected,” he said.

After the implementation of order from April 01 this year, 2,200 shops remained affected. “If Excise department counts the distance of 500 metres considering approachable road as criteria then 500 more outlets will get relief,” he said.

Naik stated that during last two and half months several liquor shops are shut down waiting for some remedy from the State government.

He said the file to denotify highways crossing through the main cities has also been moved by Public Works department which will provide relief to the liquor shops from areas like Bicholim, Valpoi, Sankhalim, Vasco, Canacona, Ponda, Cuncolim and others.

Team TNV