In this regard, the government will file an appeal in Supreme Court on Monday, he said. The Public Works Department (PWD) issued an order for denotification of 190 km of 21 state highways to urban roads.
Advertisement
The decision was taken at a meeting held by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan where it was also resolved to to shift as many liquor outlets as possible in accordance with the law.
Here the top court has chose to sustain the order of banning the sale of alcohol within 500 metres of state highways.
Over 100 liquor vends, and restaurant and hotel bars located within 500 metres of highways, have been shut down in the last two days following the Supreme Court directive to this effect.
Union Road, Transport and Highways ministry officials said today that they have received “several requests” from some states a to convert National Highways as district roads apparently to protect revenues.
Maharashtra Government expects it would lose an annual Rs 7,000 crore, because of the ban.
India, which has a network of 250,000 kilometres (155,000 miles) of national and state highways, tops the world’s deadliest roads. Speaking about her Lok Sabha constituency Chandigarh, she pointed out scores of local youth got employment in five-star hotels like the Taj and the Marriott, which are among those affected by the top court’s order.
He said the ban has also dealt a negative impact on tourism as well as planned investments in the country. However his suggestion that Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) could be served in toddy shops was rejected by CPI (M) state secretary and former home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. It will also inform the court that it’s impossible to relocate liquor vends in a hurry. Flummoxed, state governments are looking to find a way around the apex court’s order.
Meanwhile, the Economic Times estimates that the ban will hit one million jobs and cause an estimated 40% revenue loss to the industry.
Advertisement
While at least eight state governments have since petitioned the court, either against the ban or for the rule to be modified to extend the time frame or reduce the 500 metres limit, the Supreme Court has not changed its view.
