THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 318 liquor outlets and 148 toddy shops will be able to resume functioning in view of lifting of restriction on liquor shops within 500 metres from highways in corporation and municipality limits. Of the 318 liquor outlets, 276 are beer and wine parlours. A good number are in three-star hotels and may get bar licence also in accordance with the LDF’s new liquor policy. Even as the state cabinet on Wednesday decided to de-notify only state highways within corporation and municipality limits, a detailed order of the SC of July 11 clarified that the restriction on liquor outlets within 500 metres from highways won’t apply to roads within cities and municipalities.
Hence, even without de-notifying the NHs and SHs, the 318 liquor outlets and 148 toddy shops could be issued licence, government sources pointed out. Though the SC pronounced the judgment on July 11 considering a batch of petitions against the de-notification of highways by some other states, the full text of the order became public only the other day. Hence, the state government seemed to be unaware of it and decided to de-notify state highways within municipalites and corporations.
The state was also planning to seek the Centre's concurrence for de-notifying NHs within corporation and municipalities. However, in the wake of the SC order, the state will take it forward only after further legal consulation, said sources. The maximum number of liquor and toddy shops that may resume functioning are in Ernakulam, 96, followed by Kottayam, 67, Thrissur, 66, Alappuzha, 37, Kollam, 35, Kannur, 29, 27 each in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, 25 in Kozhikode, Pathanamthitta – 18, Kasargod — 13, Idukki — 11 and Wayanad — 7.
