SHILLONG, Sept 17 - One of the highest revenue earners of Meghalaya, the Excise Department will not issue new licences to establish liquor shops and bars in the State unless they are located beyond a reasonable distance from religious and educational institutions and highways.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. It has been decided that liquor shops and bars must be located at least 200 metres away from religious and educational institutions. Moreover, liquor shops and bars must be 100 metres away from the national highways running through the State.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the decision was taken after the Supreme Court directed the State Governments to keep such businesses at a reasonable distance from such places. Therefore, the State Government has brought in the changes by amending the Meghalaya Excise Rules.
Sangma stated that those shops and bars, which do not conform to the newly prescribed distance, have to relocate within a period of six months.
