Goa Govt Amends Excise Act, Doubles License Fees for Liquor Shops Near Schools, ShrinesGoa Govt Amends Excise Act, Doubles License Fees for Liquor Shops Near Schools, Shrines Panaji: The Goa government has amended the state Excise Act, 1964, doubling the license fees for liquor shops within 100 meters of schools or places of worship. The move has drawn criticism from the opposition, which alleges that it is intended to allow liquor stores to operate near these places. However, the state excise agency has denied the allegation and said the notification in this regard is being misinterpreted. The notification dated June 21 by Minister of State (Finance) Pranab Bhat states that an additional license fee of 100% will be charged for licenses issued under the relaxation of sub-rule (4) of Rule 90 of the Goa Excise Rules, 1964, as well as for renewal of such licenses. A senior official of the Excise Department explained that rule (4) allows relaxation of restrictions on liquor shops within 100 meters of schools or places of worship, with permission granted by the Excise Commissioner on a case-by-case basis. The notification merely increases the license fees for shops that have been allowed this relaxation, and does not permit new shops to open near educational institutions or religious places. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, however, alleged that the BJP government was “allowing liquor shops within 100 meters of educational institutions and religious places by increasing license fees.” Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai accused the government of manipulating existing laws and demanded withdrawal of the notification. Aam Aadmi Party Goa unit president Amit Palekar also criticized the move, saying it would expose young people to alcohol and increase the likelihood of addiction. The notification has sparked controversy and remains a topic of debate in the state.
Panaji, Jun 26 (PTI) The Goa government has amended the state Excise Act, 1964, doubling the license fees for liquor shops within 100 meters of schools or places of worship, angering the opposition who alleged that the measure was unjustified. intended to allow liquor stores to operate near these places.
However, the state excise agency denied the allegation and said the notification in this regard is being misinterpreted.
Also Read | Maharashtra deputy minister Devendra Fadnavis says Ather Energy will invest over Rs 2,000 crore in a manufacturing facility in the state, which will create 4,000 jobs.
The notification dated June 21 by Minister of State (Finance) Pranab Bhat states that an additional licence fee of 100 per cent will be charged for licences issued under the relaxation of sub-rule (4) of Rule 90 of the Goa Excise Rules, 1964, as well as for renewal of such licences.
A senior official of the Excise Department on Wednesday explained that rule (4) allows relaxation of restrictions on liquor shops within 100 meters of schools or places of worship, with permission granted by the Excise Commissioner on a case-by-case basis.
Also read | Nagaland State Lottery Result Today 8:00 PM Live, Dear Pelican Wednesday Lottery Sambad Result from 26.06.2024, View Live Lucky Draw Winners List.
While the Opposition alleged that the government was allowing the opening of liquor shops near religious places and schools, Excise Commissioner Ankita Mishra clarified that there is nothing new in the notification except the increase in license fees for the shops allowed by the relaxation.
“The relaxation for allowing liquor shops within a radius of 100 meters is already in place. The notification is being misinterpreted to suggest that the Excise Department has started allowing liquor shops within a radius of 100 meters from educational institutions or religious places. This is not true,” Mishra said at a press conference. .
In fact, obtaining permits for liquor shops within 100 meters of schools and religious places is now becoming more difficult as we have increased the permit fees by 100 percent, she added.
Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, however, alleged that the BJP government was allowing liquor shops near educational institutions and shrines by increasing license fees.
“The @BJP4Goa government’s @goacm @DrPramodPSawant, which allows liquor shops within 100 meters of educational institutions and religious places by increasing license fees, will destroy the future of youth. The government must implement austerity measures and stop wasteful spending on events,” Alemao said on social media platform X.
Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai accused the government of manipulating existing laws and demanded withdrawal of the notification.
“WE CAN CREATE EXCEPTIONAL EXCEPTION IN SCHOOLS AND TEMPLES! It’s ridiculous, and @BJP4Goa @GovtofGoa would be manipulating the existing laws to allow this. There is a reason why such rules exist, and the government’s decision amounts to corrupting places of worship as temples of knowledge that Goemkars hold sacred.
He claimed that corruption is the driving force of this government, and that immorality and lack of scruples are its basic principles.
“Withdraw this disgusting nonsense immediately and as I said earlier, #Goa govt should act like it stands for #Goemkars and not for liquor lobbies and mafia.”
Aam Aadmi Party Goa unit president Amit Palekar also criticized the report.
“Start drinking courses in schools and colleges now CM @DrPramodPSawant and @BJP4Goa. Young people will be exposed to this and may be susceptible to addiction. I’m sure the changed rules are to support some big outsider.
“We @AAPGoa demand that this be reversed immediately to save our future generations. We will explore the possibility of challenging the order in the High Court if the decision is not reversed,” Palekar said on X.
(This is an unedited auto-generated story from the syndicated news feed. Staff may not have edited or edited the content recently)
Share now
View full article
Share now
