Bhubaneswar, Dec 19: After Supreme Court banned the sale of liquor within 500 metres on either side of National or State Highways across the country, it is now a big question to the state of Odisha whether it will implement the apex court’s directive or not. Speaking to Media, Odisha Excise Minister Damodar Rout said, ‘it is not possible to shift the liquor shops nearing National Highway. If shifted, cases may come up where there will be temples and mutts. Also, shifting to such areas may create public disatisfaction.’ Also, from the revenue point of view, state government is not ready to shift the wine shops. Department sources said, while the excise collection in 2015-16 was Rs 2,568 crore, the government expected an additional Rs 800 crore in the on-going fiscal. Liquor sales in the state have already been declined due to demonetisation. On the other side, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) has also expressed that it will be difficult to shift the liquor shops. The wine merchants’ association has also said that it may knock the Supreme Court door opposing the order.
Notably, the Supreme Court on 15th December ordered a ban on the sale of liquor on all State Highways.
