Booze sale ban on highways hailedaz

SC ruling to dent liquor sales in State Nalgonda: People of the district have welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on closure of liquor shops on the national and State highways from April 1 next year, saying that the road accidents have been increasing as drivers indulge in rash driving after consuming liquor from shops on the highways.

The apex court ruling stated that liquor shops on the highways should not be revived after March 31, 2017. Many hope that SC decision would result in reducing fatalities on the highways.

Interestingly, the State Excise and Prohibition department earns more revenue from liquor shops located on the highways passing through Nalgonda, Yadadri-Bhongir and Suryapet districts. Shops on highways are in heavy demand among those submitting tenders for selling liquor.

If the SC ruling is implemented, the State revenue from liquor sales on the highways is likely to fall steeply, with a 30 per cent decline in sales.

This becomes a tricky issue as the liquor sales in the State are to continue till June next year. With the SC directive that the liquor shops on the highways would be run only till March 31, officials are said to have already begun taking steps for alternative locations.

Meanwhile, police records show that liquor shops on the National Highways are the main cause for the rising fatalities during road accidents. Such shops are being run on the National Highway at Chotuppal, Gundrampalli, Veliminedu, Chityal, Kattangur, Kethepalli, Suryapet, Munagala and Kodad.

People not only consume liquor at these shops, but also carry it to dhabas located adjacent to the highways. “This is resulting in drivers consuming liquor and continuing their travel at a high speeds leading to fatal mishaps,” pointed out a resident of Chityal, while speaking to The Hans India.

Even the Hyderabad-Warangal highway passes through Yadadri-Bhongir district along which liquor shops are abound from Bibinagar, Kondamadugu, Bhuvanagiri Rural, Raigir to Aler.

Frequent accidents allegedly due to drunk driving also occur on the State highways of Hyderabad-Nagarjunasagar and Narketpall-Addanki, which also have liquor shops en route at Narketpalli, Yellareddigudem, Pangal, Dhuppalapalli, Vemulapalli, Miryalguda bypass road, Damarcharla. Liquor shops are also being run on the Hyderabad-Nagarjunasagar road at Mal, Chintapalli, Mallepalli and Nagarjunasagar.