Punjab’s finance minister Manpreet Badal state that government has ‘loopholes in the Supreme Court order of banning liquor sale and purchase along the highways. He State that government wants to bring down the excessive number of drunken driving cases.
Government of Punjab has denotified seven state highways as bypasses to avoid the court order. State Government notifies seven highways for liquor lobby besides hoteliers, restaurant, banquet and bar owners.
However, this step of the State Government only beneficial for 15 to 25 liquor traders.
Many roads including municipal areas ranging from 2-6 kms denotified by state government.State highways which were denotified includes area of Pathankot City (Malikpur Chowk to Dalhousie bypass).in Sirhind area of Bhairopur Chunni road, Gagan Chowk to Liberty Chowk in Rajpura, Moga-Harika, Balachaur-Garhshankar and Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road.
This move of State government will going to benefit liquor seller like restaurant, bar and pub owners in over 25 towns and cities.
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said that “We had received representations from hotels, restaurants and banquet owners who were going through losses. We found loopholes and trying to improve our strategy.
Finance minister Manpreet Badal said that we have banquet where drinks were served under a license.
There are around 1600 hotels and restaurants in Punjab which were hit after the Supreme Court orders.
Nows these people will either be move themselves in search of others places or shutting down their business under pressure from court orders.