SHILLONG: Teer counters will now get closer to educational and religious institutions with the state government deciding to reduce the distance from the existing 300 metres to 100 metres.
The decision was taken after the state Cabinet approved a proposal to amend Section 6 (1) of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018 in the form of an ordinance.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that in the original act, the distance for setting up a teer counter was allowed at a distance of minimum of 300 metres from educational and places of worship but now it has been reduced to 100 metres.
Defending the decision, Tynsong said that the distance of 300 metres is quite huge in a place like Shillong and hence the Cabinet felt that the proposal is justified.
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly last year had passed the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Bill, 2018.
Some of the terms and conditions of a license or permit for arrow shooting under Section 6 and Section 7 of the Act are that the places, day or days and time of shooting including distance from places of worship and educational institutions should be as provided in the rules.
It may be recalled that the state government in 2017 had relaxed the excise rule that had restricted liquor shops in urban areas within 200 metres from places of worship, educational institutions and hospitals while making the norms more stringent on highways as the Cabinet had reduced the cut-off distance from 200 metres to 50 metres with a rider. The Cabinet that time took a decision where it was stated that retail wine shops within the 50-metre limit will remain open between 4 pm and 8 pm but those at a distance of more than 100 metres from places of worship, educational institutions and hospitals need not follow the timings.
