The government’s decision to go by the legal opinion of the Advocate General may give a fresh lease of life for around 500 out of the 675 liquor outlets dotting Salcete’s countryside.
MARGAO
If Salcete excise officials are to be believed, around 150 liquor establishments, mostly retail outlets, may now come under the purview of the Supreme Court order banning operation of liquor outlets within 500 metres of the National and State highways.
Right from Verna in the north, down to Cuncolim in South and Paroda, Chandor and Raia-Camurlim on the east, most of the liquor outlets which were earlier identified for closure of the government-constituted panel have now received a fresh lease of life. Excise Inspector Chandranath Desai told The Goan on Tuesday that rough estimates put the number of retail outlets, which may benefit out of the state government’s decision, at around 500 out of the total 675 outlets that were identified for closure.
“Around 150-175 outlets may now face closure in view of the government decision to accept the Advocate General’s opinion,” he added.
