Closure of liquor stores in State
SHILLONG: Several wine stores in parts of the city are still doing brisk business even after the implementation of a notification which bars operation of wine shops close to national and state highways, hospitals, educational institutions and places of worship.
Another restriction was 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.
Meghalaya High Court recently upheld a notification on the implementation of amended excise rules issued by the state government. The rules disallow operation of such shops close to national and state highways as well as hospitals, educational institutions and places of worship.
Although a few stores have pulled down the shutters as witnessed in some busy market places in Polo, Laitumkhrah, Police Bazar and other areas, some stores around the city are doing their usual business especially those near Anjali tourist taxi stand and parking lot adjacent to Cantonment beat house where a Gurudwara is located.
Liquor stores near Gurudwara at Punjabi lane, at Demseiniong, 4th Furlong, Rynjah and at Happy Valley near Assam Rifles Mandir are thriving despite their questionable locations.
During a spot visit to some of these areas, it was found that there are cases of violations of the government order.
Moreover, in some of the letters to the editor to this newspaper, readers have mentioned of a wine shop at Rynjah Bazaar which continues to run its business and alleged that the shop is located within the stipulated distance of 200 meters from Pohkseh Presbyterian Church.
Another letter mentioned that a liquor shop is also within 200 meters from the Pohkseh Presbyterian Church and the Umpling (R) L P School located in R & R Colony which was setup in 1960.
The BJP local unit at R & R colony has demanded immediate closure of the liquor store.
It may be mentioned that several liquor stores were shut down in parts of the State on April 1 after the High Court of Meghalaya upheld the prescribed limits notified by the State government under the Excise Rules for setting up of liquor shops.
The case will come up again for hearing in the Court on May 2. When contacted, an official with the Excise Department said that the liquor shops cannot operate violating the order of the state government.
There are as many as 581 liquor stores all over the state and as per official reports over 60% of the shops were closed down. The official added that out of the total 74 liquor shops in Ri-Bhoi, only 8 are functional. As far as Garo Hills is concerned, the Excise officials from Shillong carried out a visit to the region to assess the situation. While the state government earned a revenue of Rs 166 crore from the sale of liquor in the state in 2015-16, the earning will be significantly reduced following recent restriction.