PANJIM: Goa Forward Party (GFP) President and MLA Vijai Sardesai, has strongly objected to the recent amendment to the Goa Excise Duty Rules, permitting retail liquor outlets to be operated by companies from outside the State at the Mopa international airport and the surrounding Mopa plateau, including the Mopa Airport Development Authority (MADA) area.
Sardesai expressed concern that the decision disregards the interests of Goans, particularly those who had been involved in the liquor trade for generations.
Highlighting that the liquor business in the State had traditionally been managed by Goans, Sardesai noted that existing laws require a certificate of residence in Goa for at least 25 years to obtain a liquor licence. He pointed out that allowing outsiders to operate liquor stores in such a strategically important area is a direct threat to the livelihood of thousands of Goan families dependent on this trade.
“Permitting large corporate entities from outside Goa to set up shop at Mopa puts local businesses at risk and creates an uneven playing field,” Sardesai said, adding, "This move undermines local entrepreneurship, disregards the socio-economic fabric of Goa, and threatens our heritage."
Sardesai further questioned the government’s priorities, emphasising that its role should be to protect the interests of its citizens rather than facilitate the entry of external entities that could potentially monopolize the market and displace local traders. He urged the government to reconsider the amendment and ensure that liquor licenses in important areas like Mopa are granted exclusively to Goans.
The GFP will continue to stand against any move that threatens the welfare of the people of Goa, Sardesai said.