No plan yet to denotify highways: G Sudhakaran

Thiruvananthapuram: Government has decided to file appeal before the Supreme Court on Monday against its order that liquor outlets have to be shifted from 500 metres from the National Highway. The state government will also move the Supreme Court on Monday seeking three months’ time to shift the liquor outlets which are within  500 metres from the national highways,  PWD Minister  G. Sudhakaran said here on Tuesday. He also ruled out denotifying the  highways to bypass the Supreme Court ruling. 

“I will not have any confrontation with the people on the bar closure issue,” he said and added that  bars will not be set up near religious institutions or in residential areas.  The local self-government bodies have to take the initiative to  shift  the liquor shops, he told reporters.   The LDF government does not want to encourage  drinking, he said and maintained that none should drink.    “Foreign liquor will not be distributed through toddy shops,” he pointed out.   None  had approached him so far seeking his help to shift the liquor outlets, he said. He  also warned that if  liquor is not being sold as per  law, hooch will flow.