Loss of revenue; spurt in sale of illegal liquor feared
SHILLONG: The State government is in a dilemma over to how to address the issues arising out of closure of liquor stores as on one hand, the government will be losing revenue and on the other, illegal sale of liquor will be on the rise.
Out of as many as 538 liquor stores set up in the State, half of the stores will be affected by the order of the Commissioner and Secretary, Excise, J. Lyngdoh even as the revenue loss will be in terms of Rs 80 crore per year.
An Excise official said on Saturday that considering the loss of revenue in the wake of closure of liquor stores, the State government is exploring ways and means to address the issue.
After the ban on rat-hole coal mining which affected the revenue of the State at the rate of Rs 600 crore per year, closure of liquor stores, the major revenue earner for the State government after Taxation, will put the government in further financial constraints.
Zoning of the liquor stores is one idea which the government is contemplating to address the concerns of liquor stores owners.
When asked about the probability of rise in illegal sale of liquor due to the closure of liquor shops, the official with the Excise department said that police are keeping vigil to check such a trend.
The government order makes it mandatory to close down all liquor stores which are within 200 metres of educational institutions, religious places and hospitals.
Another restriction is on setting up of liquor shops within a distance of 50 metres from the mid-point of national/state highways within the city/town limits, and 100 metres from mid-point of national and state highways on the outskirts.
The order will also be applicable to all licensed bars cum restaurants in the State.
However, the owners can re-locate their stores and the Excise department is ready to facilitate this transition.
The High Court of Meghalaya on March 31 had upheld the Septembers 23, 2015 notification of the State government regarding the restriction imposed on liquor shops.
However, the order allows the relocation of shops and if the licensee submits a proposal for relocation, “the same may be considered by the department in accordance with law and expeditiously, preferably within 15 days of making the proposal.”