RAIPUR: While PM Narendra Modi praised the Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s prohibition policy early this month, his party ruling in Chhattisgarh has come up with a different plan, deciding to sell liquor through the state-owned retail outlets after March 31.
Following the Supreme Court order on not allowing any liquor shop operating within 500 metres of highways, the state government apparently is apprehensive over the liquor vendors not quite keen on seeking licenses for the places other than the highways where the sales customarily remain very high. With an evident concern to recompense the loss of revenue, the state government has decided to sell liquor through its stores in areas where the private vendors might refrain to carry out the trade.
The Raman cabinet decided to bring an ordinance -- Chhattisgarh Excise (Amendment) Ordinance 2017, during the upcoming budget session of the state assembly to create a state-owned undertaking (corporation) for facilitating the sale of both foreign and Indian liquor through government outlets.
The Apex Court on December 15 ordered a ban on liquor sale on all highways across the country and issued a directive not to renew the licenses of existing shops from April 1 this year.
According to an estimate by the state excise department, some 280-odd liquor retail stores presently exist alongside highways. In total, there are 712 liquor shops in Chhattisgarh.
The state excise minister Amar Agrawal claimed that the state-owned corporation will be created as precautionary step and the plan will be executed if the responses from the vendors remain poor during the auction process. “What if the illicit liquor and the black market for liquor thrives? We need to find ways to check that along with the revenue loss to the state” the minister asserted.
The main opposition Congress party however opposed the state government’s move. “It is an irony that the Raman Singh government on one hand formed Bharat Mata Vahini - women brigade - to confront alcoholism and now decides to create a corporation to encourage sell of liquor. There could be other ways to generate revenues but not at the cost of public health. We will strongly oppose”, said T S Singhdeo, the leader of opposition.
The former chief minister Ajit Jogi-led Janta Congress Chhattisgarh party cited the government’s decision as “anti-people”. “We condemn it. Instead of preventing alcohol related crimes, health problems, social nuisance, the government encourages the sale of liquor. It is objectionable”, said Iqbal Ahmed Rizvi, the media incharge of Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J).
The activists too were “unhappy”. “We protest against such initiative of the government, which knows the ill-effects of liquor addiction. We demand a total ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol”, said Mamta Sharma, a social activist.