SHILLONG: With the State government enforcing closure of liquor stores and bars in the city, a war of words has erupted between the administration and the affected liquor dealers with the latter accusing the former of acting in an arbitrary manner.
On Wednesday, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner P.S. Dkhar said the district administration will follow the notification of the State government.
He stated that the High Court of Meghalaya has upheld the prescribed limits notified by the State government under the Excise Rules for setting up of liquor shops which stipulates the closure of all liquor shops located within 200 metres from places of worship, educational institutions and hospitals.
He added that all stores that come under the purview of the notification will be closed down.
As many as 314 liquor stores out of a total of 600 in the whole State will be affected by the order.
On the same day, liquor dealers in the State asked the State government to implement the revised prescribed limit under the Excise Rules to stores located outside the town limits and for new liquor shops which were opened after amendment of the Rule 183 of the Meghalaya Excise Act.
With most of the liquor shops and bars in the city being sealed or closed, the liquor dealers have slammed the State government’s move saying it is arbitrary.
Some liquor dealers in the city argued that the limit for liquor stores even in a big city like Guwahati is only 50 metres whereas the State government has notified the limit of 200 metres in a small town like Shillong.
Some liquor dealers stated that a Supreme Court Advisory had asked the State government to consult the stakeholders on location of liquor shops on the National Highway but the State government came up with the notification without even consulting the stakeholders.
“If we have to relocate our liquor shops 100 metres from the highway, then our shops will be located on top of the hills,” some dealers said.
The dealers claimed that the State government collected around Rs 400 crore annually as revenue from liquor shops and now ninety per cent of the liquor shops in the State have been closed.
“In Shillong only 10 stores are open today out of 107,” the dealers said, adding that there are many instances where the liquor store was set up earlier and schools, hospitals or religious establishments were opened up in the vicinity much later, but even all those shops have been sealed.
The dealers have filed a petition in the High Court and the matter will be heard again next month.
