Liquor ban: LDF mulls de-notification

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: LDF state leadership, which is expected to meet soon to formalise a broader agenda for the forthcoming all-party meet on liquor issue, is set to explore various options which include de-notifying the state highways. Though top government sources said that the issue of de-notyfing state highways had not been taken up actively at the moment, all options are open considering the huge impact that the apex court verdict has had on the state. LDF is keen to evolve a political consensus before initiating drastic policy changes in connection with liquor outlets.

Several states have already initiated measures for de-notifying state highways to tide over the crisis in abkari sector. Union Territory Chandigarh was the first to de-notify state highways. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have also taken the same route. Pressure is building on  incumbent governments in Punjab, Haryana,  Karnataka to de-notify state highways. Kerala has 4,342 kilometres of state highways and 1,781 km national highway.

If the state highways are de-notified nearly 50 per cent of the liquor shops would be able to resume their operations. According to officials Supreme Court had already made it clear that it was for respective state governments to decide whether to notify or de-notify state highways. In this context the state government only requires political consensus. These issues will figure at the all party meeting that the government is planning to convene soon for arriving at a consensus.