Port Blair, June 16: There is a serious need to check violations of Bar Licence guidelines as it has been noticed that many children are directly affected due to negligent attitude of the concerned authorities, said the Panchayat Samiti Member, Mayabunder Shri Abdul Siddique today. In a letter to the Lt. Governor, the Samiti Member said that as per the Guidelines amended from time to time, it is mentioned that the licence should not sell liquor to the minors (below 18 years). Though the said clause is added in the Guidelines but the same is not being implemented strictly as all the bars in N&M Andaman are serving liquor to the minors and no action is being taken.

The laid Guidelines also mentions that the Bars should be 75 meters away from any Medical Institution, Educational Institution, Religious Institution, Women’s Hostel, Orphans and Tribal Hostels. In this regard the Samiti Member has urged the Lt. Governor to amend the guidelines so as to keep the distance as 100 meters instead of 75 meters in Urban area and 250 meters in the Rural areas as the houses in villages are situated far from each other unlike Urban areas.

The Samiti Member, Abdul Siddique had also met the Chief Secretary (I/c) Ms. Rina Ray and brought to her notice that liquors are being served in bars of N&M during declared dry days. He demanded that such illegal activities should be strictly monitored and action should be initiated against the violators.

He also noted that some bars in N&M Andaman especially Mayabunder are selling liquor in bulk and no proper bills for the same is being maintained. It is not only this Siddique said, stating that liquor is being served in the rooms, in open areas as against the guidelines and ladies are engaged in such activities. The empty liquor bottles are being dumped near road side or in open spaces which has been causing inconvenience to the residents, he said.

As a piece of suggestion to check such activities, the Samiti Member has suggested that CCTV be installed in all the bars to especially to restrict serving liquor to minors.

Sighting the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to all states and UTs to depute plain clothed female police officers in the vicinity of bus stand, shops, railway stations, bar, beaches, public service vehicle, place of worship etc. to monitor and supervise incidents of crime and to install CCTV cameras in strategic position which would be deterrent and if detected that offender could be caught, Siddique has suggested that the same theory be adopted with regard to operation of Bar so that the society and minors can be saved from unwanted incidents of crime.