MAHE: Although they won a historic verdict from the Supreme Court, the anti-liquor activists in Mahe are not in a mood to withdraw. After the apex court banned the liquor outlets in a 500-metre vicinity on highways, they have started sprouting in other parts of the Union territory. Mayyazhikkoottam, an NRI collective of residents which played a significant role supporting the SC cases by Liquor Prohibition Council of Mahe, is planning to approach the court to regulate the liquor supply to the area based on population and restrict licenses to one for an individual. Residents from Palloor and Pandakkal areas are hit by the order as they started coming to their neighbourhoods. Also, the inflow of tipplers from nearby Kannur and Kozhikode districts are causing serious problems for them.
“There is no doubt that the judgment was a landmark. However, as far as Mahe is concerned, it is like shifting a deformity from one organ to another,” said Jinos Basheer of Mayyazhikkoottam. “While almost 75 % of our population of 40,000 is women and children, the allotment of liquor to Mahe is five lakh litres a month. It promotes smuggling, which is against Abkari Act. The allotment should be strictly regulated based on population, keeping an extra 10-15 % for tourism purpose.” “Liquor business is a not a Constitutional right and should be regulated. Thirty people are holding the licenses for 64 IMFL outlets in Mahe. Once they control them, the issue of proliferation of liquor shops in Pandakkal and Palloor can be solved,” he added.
