Belagavi: Despite repeated raids conducted by the state Excise Department, dhabas and other outlets continue selling liquor along the 201 km- long national highway - 4 and the 90 km -long national highway-4A in violation of its guidelines that prohibit sale of liquor within 220 meters of highways in areas with a population of 20,000.
Blatantly ignoring the excise rules, at least 56 liquor outlets are located merely at 20 to 25 kms from the national and state highways in Belagavi.
In fact, the highway between Jatt and Jamboti, which registered highest accident cases last year in the state, also has the highest number of such outlets operating illegally alongside it.
Although issued notices by the excise department, owners of many of these liquor shops have gone to court, contending that they do not have an alternative location to shift to.
Many also argue that their liquor shops were opened before the Excise Department's rules were amended in 1994. While several offices of State Excise Department in the state have not yet received the recent order of the Supreme Court also banning sale of liquor near highways, the owners of these liquor outlets are reportedly preparing for a fresh battle and are looking for loopholes to escape action.
A couple of days ago, law minister T.B. Jayachandra had announced that the Cabient would study how to help bar owners facing the heat of the liquor ban.
