Himachal CPI(M) unit slams government for de-notifying highways

Shimla, April 6 : The CPI(M) on Thursday slammed the Himachal Pradesh government for de-notifying 16 state highways into district roads to bypass the Supreme Court order to stop selling liquor along these roads.

The government seems to be highly efficient in ensuring that the people of the state, who are reeling under crisis of basic services, should not be hindered from getting booze from their neighbourhoods or during travel, a statement quoting CPI(M) state committee Secretary Onkar Shad said.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said this decision showed lack of concern towards the lives of the people and more interest towards generating revenue from the liquor sale.

The Himachal government on Wednesday downgraded 16 state highways of 1,308 km length as major district roads.

Official records say there were 950 liquor shops and bars located within 500 metres distance from the highways that were facing closure with the Supreme Court's December 2016 order that came into force on April 1.

Now after downgrading 16 state highways nearly 250 liquor shops are likely to be saved from the closure, an official with the state Excise and Taxation Department told IANS.

The CPI(M) demanded the de-notification should be withdrawn and the government must ensure that there was strict enforcement against drunken driving as was practiced in Chandigarh.