TURA, July 18 - Wine stores in Tura, some of which had re-opened, shut down once again after objections from various quarters, including Church elders and localities. A new order issued recently by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills (WGH) ensured the wine stores downed shutters once again.
The new instructions came after a meeting in the residence of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma here and complaints by various women�s
organisations.
According to the new instructions issued by the DC, for the opening of new wine stores, the owners would have to procure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local headman or locality committee.
�NOC earlier obtained now stand invalid as per new amended rules under Rule 183 of the Meghalaya Excise Rules. Fresh NOCs will have to be procured for wine stores even in the case of wine stores not near the National Highway. The contention of whether the wine store came after a place of worship will now stand invalid,� said the release.
The measurement of distance would now be taken on an aerial basis (bird�s eye view) and should not be less than 50 metres from NH and 100 metres for other areas.
Similarly, for the wine stores near schools, places of worship or hospitals, the aerial distance would have to be a minimum of 200 metres.
A daily stock taking exercise would also take place in wine stores to put a control on black marketing with a report to be submitted on a daily basis to the DC. Regular checks would also be done by both the police and Excise teams to control the black marketing menace.
The release further stated that regulation of timings, restriction of sale to minors even to the extent of verifying age would have to be strictly followed or action would be taken on the wine stores. �The instructions would supersede all earlier instructions,� added the release.
