Himachal Denotifies State Highways

Himachal This Week

No road in Himachal is a state highway after the government issued a notification denotifying all sixteen state highways. As a result, liquor vends and beer bars located on state highways will open. Public Works Department has issued notification to denotify state highways after directions from the state government. All these state highways have been denotified as district roads including Chamba -Tissa state highway located in tribal area of Chamba. This road has received Rs. 27 crore from Centre Road Fund from the Union Government.

Liquor Vends Fetch Rs. 940 Crore

The Excise and Taxation Department has collected Rs. 940 crore from the auction of liquor vends in the state till Thursday. Though all vends have not been sold yet the revenue collected is Rs. 40 crore more as compared to the last year. The department had fixed April 6 as the last day for auction of liquor vends but it didn’t get much response as it could collect only Rs. 60 crore from the same. The department is hoping to earn more revenue from the auction of remaining liquor vends in Himachal. Last year, the department had collected about Rs. 900 crore from the auction of liquor vends. It is also expected to raise the issue of unsold liquor vends with the government. Departmental sources said that denotification of state highways will also add to the revenue as 60 % of the vends closed down due to Supreme Court orders are likely to reopen.

Denotified State Highways

* Hamirpur-Maranda via Thural-Sujanpur

* Una-Ner Chowk via Aghar-Badsar-Jahu-Bhambla

* Chail-Kumarhatti via Neri Pull-Yashwant Nagar-Ochaghat

* Shalaghat-Barotiwala via Arki-Kunihar

* Shimla- Mandi via Tattapani state highway

* Sainj-Chopal-Nerwa state highway

* Shimla-Nalagarh-Ghanauli via Kunihar- Ramshehar

* Dharamshala-Chadhiar-Sanghol via Dadh-Palampur-Holta

* Jogindernagar-Ghumarwin via sarkaghat

* Jwalamukhi-Raja Ka Talab via Dehra-Jwali

* Mehatpur-Daulatpur via Una-Mubarikpur

* Pong Dam-Jassur via Fatehpur in Kangra

* Chamba-Tissa state highway

* Nurpur-Tunu Hatti via Lahru

* Shahpur-Chowari via Sihunta

* Ranital Kotla-32 Miles road

* All sixteen state highways have been denotified and converted into district roads. The notification will be implemented with immediate effect

-Narender Chauhan, Additional Chief Secretary

Golden Goose For States

Himachal has also denotified sixteen state highways to save its liquor vends from Supreme Court’s decision. Himachal chose to save its exchequer from the reformative decision of the court. The state has also ignored the sentiment of women who had been protesting for shifting of liquor vends. What is there in nomenclature of highways if liquor is the major contributor in state’s exchequer? There is no place for aspirations that link these roads with development. We admit that it is a big business thanks to the people consuming liquor and this trade is a golden goose for states like Himachal having no taxes. There are many sectors like tourism and non vegetarian market associated with liquor consumption and it is imperative for the state government to save liquor vends. It is also necessary to keep a business running that is filling state’s coffers. Two aspects of development have become clear; one liquor based economy should continue and downgrade state highways to bypass court’s decision. Expansion of liquor trade in Himachal is no less than witnessed in other states. Who has benefitted from government’s decision to downgrade sixteen state highways? It reflects the dominance of liquor cartel as the government has stalled the development of its roads. There is another section that visualizes government’s patronage to those consuming alcohol as it will further strengthen this trade. The courts will also have to define its decisions so that they are implemented in totality.

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