SHILLONG: The state cabinet will take a decision regarding the relaxation of amended excise rules.
A Cabinet memorandum was already prepared by the concerned department in this regard, an official source said on Saturday.
The Meghalaya government had issued the notification on September 23 last year after the cabinet approved an amended excise rule that states that no liquor shop should come up within a distance of 200 metres from hospitals, educational institutions and places of worship.
The rule also fixed a permissible distance of 50 metres from mid-point of national and state highways for the shops within the city/town limits, and 100 metres from mid-point of national and state highways for those in other places.
The Excise Minister Zenith Sangma, recently said that the cabinet would take a final call on the review of the amended order.
“There are certain concerns arising out of the order and we are keen to review it,” Sangma said.
According to Sangma, Shillong being a hilly region, it is illogical to put restriction regarding distance of educational institutions, religious places and hospitals with the liquor stores.
“There is also a question of which one came first whether a liquor store or an educational institution before effecting the closure of the former,” Sangma said
The Minister also said that the issue of putting restriction to set up liquor stores near the Highways by the Centre was only a recommendation and it was up to the state government to follow it or not.
