(Tribune)
The state Cabinet yesterday gave its approval for the de-notification of 64 state highways. The move is aimed at giving respite to the Excise Department staring at huge losses following the Supreme Court directives to remove liquor vends along the national and state highways.Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Trivender Singh Rawat, Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy said, “A procedure will be followed for changing the status of the state highways. First, the resolution will be passed by the urban local bodies for de-notifying parts of highways passing through its areas, after which the proposal will be sent to the Chief Secretary and then the PWD,” he said.
According to an Excise Department official, around 155 liquor vends located along state highways will continue to operate from their existing places as the Supreme Court ruling will not apply to them. The maximum number of liquor vends are in Nainital, Almora and Haridwar (22 each) which will be able to continue functioning.
