Union territory to lose Rs 150 crore per year, says Puducherry government

MAHE: The Puducherry government decision to file a review petition in the  Supreme Court to review  the ban on liquor shops on national highway has invited  protest from the Mahe residents. Puducherry said in its  petition that the union territory would  lose  Rs 150-crore revenue a year due to the closure of shops and sought special consideration to the area.  The apex court had  on December 15 ordered a ban on all liquor shops within 500 metres on national as well as state highways across the country and made it clear that licences of existing shops will not be renewed after March 31. 

In Mahe alone, 34 shops have to close down by then  causing a revenue loss of nearly 40 percent.  The petition said  that the closure of shops will adversely affect the tourism sector and  create job loss for many.  The revenue from liquor shops  was used  for the welfare schemes implemented in the union territory, including free laptops and ration for the people. Mayyazhikkottam, a social service organization which  fought for the ban, alleged that the state government was  cheating the people by giving the review petition.

“Though the Supreme Court had rejected similar petitions  twice earlier, there is a high-level conspiracy  prompting the government to approach the court again. Political parties have received huge sums from the liquor barons for elections. “That’s why the government took such a hasty decision,” the Mayyazhikoottam office-bearers said. They  threatened to intensify the protest against the government action and go for legal battle.