MCG, Huda and Gurgaon police to crack down on illegal liquor vends

Officials said the matter was discussed in a road safety committee meeting held in the last week of May

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), the Haryana urban development authority (Huda) and the Gurgaon police will collaborate and take action against illegal liquor vends during their anti-encroachment drives, MCG officials said. There has been a reported increase in the number of such illegal outlets being set up across the city.

Action will be taken against such vends during anti-encroachment drives if they fall within 500 metres of a highway. (HT Photo)

The decision comes two months after the Supreme Court (SC) enforced a ban on the sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways in a bid to curb drink driving and resultant road accidents.

According to a senior MCG official, residents have approached them and the Gurgaon police several times informing them of illegal vends being set up in their localities.

The official added that the matter was discussed in the road safety committee meeting held in the last week of May. Officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) attended the meeting. They decided that such establishments would be sealed after cross-checking their proximity from the highways with the excise department.

“During our drives, we will take action only against illegal vends falling within the 500-metre red zone, following confirmation from the excise department. However, we will not act against any liquor shop situated in residential areas or near educational institutions,” a senior MCG official said.

Gurgaon: Residents demand removal of liquor vends outside 500-metre zone

The official added that representatives of various public bodies will assemble for anothser road safety meeting on Monday to identify locations across the city where illegal liquor vends are operating. They will also discuss the progress of the measures being taken to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon.

Following the SC’s April 1 directions, 115 bars and pubs in the city faced the prospect of shutting down as they were within 500 metres of state or national highways. These outlets included popular joints at CyberHub, Sector 29 and Sohna Road.

However, barring a few outlets on Sohna Road, the pubs and bars were able to escape the ban after changing their points of entry, thus keeping themselves out of the 500-metre range.