Highway liquor ban: Mahe to lose 40 per cent revenue

MAHE: Mahe, enclave of Puducherry in Kerala, would have to shut down a majority of its liquor shops once the Supreme Court order comes into effect. The nine square kilometre land sandwiched between Kozhikode and Kannur districts has National Highway 66 passing through it and two state highways- Paaral-Chokli and Pandakkal-Palloor. Mahe has a population just above 41,000, but has 64 liquor shops, the second highest in the Union Territory after Puducherry region.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court had directed that no liquor store can operate within a distance of 500 metres of state and national highways in the country. The closure of bars would also adversely affect the revenue of Mahe. Out of the total revenue collected in the financial year 2015-16 by Mahe administration, 40 per cent has come from the excise duty. “Liquor shops have contributed Rs 67 crore in last fiscal year in Mahe. I have not received any details regarding the Supreme Court verdict on the closure of the liquor shops, but whatever it is we are bound to follow the apex court orders,” said Mahe regional administrator S. Manicka Deepan.

The major share of this tiny enclave’s revenue are from excise duty, commercial taxes and transport taxes. The Puducherry government was against the demand to close down the liquor shops even after the Madras High Court ruling and the Road Transport and Highways Ministry direction citing loss of revenue.

It’s a historic moment for Mahe collectives

For Liquor Prohibition Council and Mayyazhikoottam — an NRI collective of Mahe residents, the Supreme Court verdict has come as a big relief. Prohibition Council is fighting against liquor menace in Mahe for the last two decades and is also a party in the case in which the Supreme Court promulgated the historic verdict.   Mayyazhikkoottam also played a major role by financially supporting the Prohibition Council in their legal battle and also leading the online campaigns for it.

Speaking to this newspaper, Liquor Prohi-bition Council president T.V. Gangadharan said that the order is a welcome move. “This is a deserving recognition for our efforts to make Mahe a liquor free region. We also thank the Mayyazhikoottam for the timely assistance they have provided us,” he said. It was in 2014, the Prohibition Council became a respondent in the special leave petition submitted by Puducherry government in the apex court against Madras High Court order directing the state government to follow Union government circular directing removal of bars along the NH.

In recognition of their efforts, the Prohibition Council was even included by the SC as part of the meetings to frame a national policy on alcoholic beverages and alcohol. The court in September 2015 directed the attorney general to call a meeting of authorities concerned from state /Union Territories and Centre to discuss and frame policy and to make sure the Mahe Liquor Prohibition Council and Chandigarh-based Arrive Safe Society be part of the meeting. “This is a major victory for all who fought against liquor menace,” said Jinos Basheer of Mayyzhikoottam.