SHILLONG: The Government will review the liquor- free zones in the State.
There are 10 areas in Shillong and 7 in Tura as declared by the Excise Department and designated as liquor free zones where vending of liquor is banned.
The Excise Minister, Metbah Lyngdoh pointed to the 10 roads in the city as liquor free zones in reply to a question by Winnerson Sangma (Congress) .
They are Round road-Governor’s House Point-State Central Library Point-Secretariat Road-Kachari Road.
Others are State Central Library Point- Barik Point- Civil Hospital Point-Monolith Point in front of State Central Library, Don Bosco Square point-Dhankheti Point-Fire Brigade Point via St. Edmund’s College.
Don Bosco Square Point to Polo Road via Shillong College-BK Bajoria School. Shillong College to All India Radio Point via St. Anthony’s College and also Jacob’s Ladder road and Hopkinson Road.
Dhankheti to All India Radio via Loreto up and Lower Lachumiere to Malki point via PWD office and from Horse Shoe Building to Barik point.
Raj Bhavan road, Raj Bhavan Police point to Hotel Polo Towers via Wards’ Lake, Botanical garden to Bivar road and also Bishop Cotton’s Road. Barik Police Point to Civil Hospital Point via Pine Mount School and Red Cross. Fire Brigade point via Bethany Hospital via Upper and Lower Nongrim Hills road upto Nongrim Hills petrol pump junction.
The liquor free zones in Tura are Ringre bridge to Hawakhana Petrol pump, RC road, Chandmari junction to Sampalgre (KA Road), Ringre Bridge to Chitoktak via Upper Chandmari and Gandrak Dare.
NEC road at Mondoltilla junction to Civil Hospital at Tetengkol. Hawakhana Petrol pump to Circuit House junction via Teteng Aja.
Old Civil Hospital to Akonggre junction, via DC park, DC office and Tura Police Station.
Winnerson asked a supplementary question as to whether the government has any intention of extending the liquor free zones to other areas.
In this connection, Lyngdoh said, “The government can notify any areas as liquor free zone when and where it is necessary from time to time.”
Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh pointed out that hotels under no liquor zones are still serving alcohol and asked the Minister to look into the matter.
To this, Metbah asked, “What are the hotels?” To which Ampareen replied, “Shillong Club.” On this note, Metbah said the matter will be looked into.
When the Congress MLA Charles Pyngrope asked further on the “idea of making liquor free zone, Metbah said that the department will review the liquor free zones as a whole.
Again, Winnerson also asked on the quantum of revenue loss to the state to which Metbah maintained there is no loss. However, he added that the revenue loss factor will be looked into.
Later, Metbah told reporters that vending is allowed from 4 pm to 8 pm in the liquor free zones.
