Levinson Martins prohibits sale of liquor in Surla

PANAJI: North Goa collector Levinson Martins on Thursday prohibited the sale of liquor at Surla, in Sattari taluka, for a period of 30 days from Friday, following complaints of tourists creating nuisance in the village under the influence of alcohol.
Surla residents had protested against the nuisance created by tourists and demanded closure of liquor shops in the village.
Martins issued the order under Section 29A of the Goa Excise Act, 1964, read with Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973.
“All the liquor bars, shops, pubs, clubs, provision stores or any establishment serving or selling liquor or alcoholic beverages in retail or packed bottle in Surla within the Thane-Dongurli village panchayat area of Sattari taluka are hereby prohibited from selling liquor and all types of alcoholic beverages in retail or packed bottle/can from July 20 onwards for a period of 30 days,” the order states.
‘Women, kids afraid to go out’
The collector’s order states that if any vendor is found contravening these orders, it would result in the cancellation of the licences of the establishment in question, and make the owner liable for penal action.
The collector said tourists, generally large groups of youth, visit the village during the monsoon and create nuisance by drinking on the streets and bathing in the nullahs.
He also said that locals have complained of drunken tourists disturbing the flow of pedestrian and traffic movement on the narrow village road, which is the sole access to the village from the national highway, and that the women and children of the village were afraid to venture out as a result.