Gurgaon: Three pubs in Sector 30 fail to get liquor clearance

The pub owners have already begun scouting for alternative locations for shifting

Three pubs in the Sector 30 area failed to get the clearance from the committee members despite the re-measurement as they were falling within 500 metres of the national highway. The report submitted to the deputy commissioner by the committee members was sent to the excise commissioner in Panchkula last week.

The distance of Ninkasi, Cooper’s Grill, Bar and Bottle & Barrels from the highway was measured again on May 15 after they submitted affidavits seeking fresh measurement. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

Distance of Ninkasi, Cooper’s Grill, Bar and Bottle & Barrels was measured again on May 15 after they submitted affidavits seeking fresh measurement.

“We had submitted the report to the deputy commissioner along with the measurement and the layout plans of the pubs in Sector 30. We had measured the shortest distance as well, and it was found to be barely 180 metres from the edge of the highway till the Star Mall. This was the last leg of the measurement that we carried out,” HC Dahiya, deputy excise and taxation commissioner(West), Gurgaon, said.

These establishments were found to be within 500 metres of the highway during the earlier measurement, but the Haryana government later released fresh guidelines stating that the distance to the point of sale should be measured instead of the one from the entrance of the establishment. After the fresh order, the owners of the pubs were hopeful of relief, but were disappointed on Wednesday after they received word from the department that their joint were found within the red zone.

The pubs have started looking at other places to shift their establishments.

“We have to shut down the brewery now. We were paying the rent and salaries to our staff as we had hopes of resuming operations at our outlet. However, we have to relocate now. We are already scouting for alternative locations,” Baljeet Rathee, director, Ninkasi Brewery, said.

Read I SC liquor ban: Gurgaon CyberHub pubs get clean chit, will serve alcohol

A team of officials from the district administration, excise department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), state public works department (PWD) and the police conducted the measurement.

The Supreme Court ban had affected 115 pubs and bars in the city. Only the ones in CyberHub and Sector 29 managed to survive the liquor ban and have started serving alcohol again.

The worst-hit are the three pubs in Sector 30 and 17 on Sohna Road whose liquor licenses will not be renewed by the department.

The Supreme Court banned serving and sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and state highways after expressing concern over high fatalities in road accidents and the menace of drink driving.