Goa-Maharashtra liquor squabble hots up
Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji
The local liquor vendors have set the Goa government a February
18 deadline to resolve the issue of the neighbouring Maharashtra
state not allowing people to bring in liquor bought across the
border.
Maharashtra, of late, has been disregarding permits issued by
the Goa government to people wishing to carry liquor for personal
consumption across the border into any state which does not have
a prohibition law.
It's been over a month now since tourists travelling to Bombay
are being harassed by Maharashtra excise officers who are stopping
them at check posts, tearing Goa liquor permits and breaking all
bottles they can find.
Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane is planning to once again hold
a dialogue with Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi.
Though the Maharashtra government does not permit import of Goan
liquor it allows people to carry it en route to other states.
Most tourists carry the local Goan brew, feni, and other Indian
made foreign liquor brands as they are cheaper in the state than
elsewhere in the country. The Goa government has been earning
a good revenue from the liquor trade.
"I am not bothered about the law. Our main concern is that
tourists are being harassed," claims Rane. The dialogue he
had with his Maharashtra counterpart has not borne fruit yet.
He is puzzled as to why the "illegal practice" of tearing
up Goa's liquor permits has not yet stopped despite Joshi having
a positive approach to the issue. "I would appreciate it
if Maharashtra officials succeed in controlling liquor smuggling
across the border and not harassing law abiding tourists,"
he has appealed.
Maharashtra's excise officials have, in the meanwhile, adopted
a tough stance on the issue. A local daily here has quoted P B
Sawant, Maharashtra excise commissioner (prohibition), as saying
that they would not permit a single liquor bottle from Goa having
its official permit.
On the contrary, Sawant suggests that tourists should buy liquor
from Maharashtra when they use Bombay or Pune as transit points.
While this may help Maharashtra raise its revenue from liquor,
the state is, on the other hand, already hearing protests against
its decision to hike liquor prices.
UNI
Related Story:
Goa perturbed by Maharashtra's embargo on its liquor
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