Centre Rejects Karnataka Govt’s Proposal to Denotify National Highways to Save Liquor Shops

Team Udayavani, Aug 18, 2017, 4:06 PM IST

Bengaluru: Union government has rejected Karnataka state government’s proposal to denotify the stretches of national highways (NH) pass through cities in Karnataka state.

The state government sent the proposal to the centre after a Supreme Court order which asked all state governments to shut liquor shops functioning on an area within 500 meter away from national highways in the country. In an attempt to save those liquor shops which fall within 500 meter surface from national highways, Karnataka government sent a proposal to denotify the stretches of NHs which pass through towns and cities in the state.

A copy of a letter from the centre to the state government reportedly submitted to Karnataka high court by a legal counsel of central government on August 14. The centre in its communication stated that it was not feasible to admit the proposal by the state government even if it was analysed in various angles.

The legal counsel said that the proposal of the state government to denotify 609.65 km long stretches of national highways which pass through towns and cities in the state has been analyzed in detail and finally it was decided to reject the proposal.