Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 1: The Supreme Court (SC) which had ordered all the bars located within 500 metres of highways to be closed down, had recently reviewed the earlier verdict. Through this fresh clarification issued recently, it exempted liquor shops located within urban limits. This order has brought huge relief to bar owners who were facing a bleak future, having invested huge amounts in their business entities.

Excise department is making preparations to issue licences and allow liquor shops located within urban areas in both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to begin doing business.

74 liquor outlets in Dakshina Kannada are preparing to start a fresh innings soon. 39 bars in the city, seven from Bantwal, four in Beltangady, 12 from Sullia and two in Puttur will begin transacting business again in the light of the SC order. Out of 463 liquor shops in the district, 209 had to be closed in tune with the above order. 12 had been shifted in terms of the SC verdict.

In tune with the new order, about 60 bars located within the limits of urban areas like Karkala, Kundapur, Kaup municipality, Saligrama town panchayat and Udupi city municipality in Udupi district will reopen.

Bar Owners Association Udupi district president, B Govindaraja Hegde, expressed happiness about the revision of its earlier order by the Supreme Court. He said that out of 60 bars in urban areas, 41 had opened again for business and the remaining ones are readying to resume their businesses in course of time.