Odisha government said it is "impossible" to shift liquor shops away from national and state highways.
It is "impossible" to implement the Supreme Court order to shift liquor shops to at least 500 metres away from national and state highways, the Odisha government has said. There are about 500 liquor shops across the state located within 500 metres from the highways, official sources said.
"It is impossible to move liquor shops 500 metre away from the highways. There are usually villages, temples, mutts located 500 m away from the highways. People will object to liquor shops there. How can one open liquor shops? These kind of issues will come up in large numbers," said Excise Minister Damodar Rout.
Mr Rout, who had earlier objected to the total prohibition idea terming it as "impractical", said, "It may so happen that most liquor shops won't apply for licenses under such a condition," he said.
Meanwhile, Odisha Liquor Sellers' Association has called a meeting of its managing body to discuss the subject.
"We will call a managing body meeting over this issue," secretary of the association Prabhat Das said.
Excise officials said the state's excise revenue collection would be "severely hit" if liquor shops are shifted 500 m away from the highways.
While the excise collection in 2015-16 was Rs 2,568 crore, the state government expected an additional Rs 800 crore in the ongoing fiscal. Besides, demonetisation has already made a visible impact on liquor sales across the state, they said.
Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha has said it will be difficult to shift the liquor shops.