MAHE: Following the Supreme Court ban on liquor shops along National Highway, as many as 34 liquor outlets in Mahe have to shutter by March 31. The order has resulted in the liquor shop owners in this micro union territory to hunt for residential areas to open the shops and retain licenses. Residents are up in arms and plan to meet the Chief Minister to submit a memorandum urging him to intervene in the issue. It was on December 15 the three-member bench headed by former Chief Justice T.S Thakur ordered a ban on all liquor shops within 500 metres on national and state highways across the country and made it clear that licenses of existing shops will not be renewed after March 31.
Almost all liquor shops in Mahe town have to close down by March 31 and the liquor shop owners are planning to convert the warehouses and vacant commercial spaces near densely populated Railway Station Road area, Mundock and Manjakkal into liquor shops, to tackle the 500-metre criteria. Residents have formed Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi to prevent such moves and to protest against official apathy. “We will not allow to convert residential areas to liquor shops and to make the area a safe haven for drunkards,” said Sadiq Manjakkal, executive committee member of the Samithi.
“We will meet Puducherry CM V Narayana Swamy who is visiting Mahe on Sunday to air our woes,” he added. Mahe Regional Administrator S. Manicka Deepan said that he received representations regarding the issue. “The existing excise rules have no such clauses which bar liquor outlets to open at residential areas. However, there are rules that bar religiousor culturally important centres nearby. “We will also consider the restrictions posed on keeping inflammable substances at residential areas and fuel stations before sanctioning any such licenses,” he added.
