BANGALORE: Excise Minister M P Renukacharya on Friday said the state government is proposing to extend the goonda act on those involved in manufacturing of illicit liquor.
“This is one among several moves to strengthen excise laws to curb illicit liquor thriving in some parts of the state,” said the excise minister.
“A decision will be taken at the meeting of top officials of the Excise Department on December 8.” He said the officials have identified as many as 1,533 centres in different parts of the state where illicit liquor was being manufactured.
These need to be curbed and steps need to be taken to ensure that such centres do not come up again, he said.
Improvement
In 2009-10, there were 2,851 raids on illicit liquor centres whereas in 2010-11, such raids number about 2,349, said the minister.
“As many as 4,345 illicit liquor manufacturers have been arrested during 2009-10 whereas the number of such arrests during 2010-11 till October is 2,672,” Renukacharya detailed.
He said if any illicit liquor manufacturer is caught for three times, they will be exterminated from the district.
“As many as 17 such persons have been sent out of the state,” he said.
Responding to the allegations of corruption made against him by JD (S) leader H D Revanna, Renukacharya said, “I expected this as I have taken some steps to stop the dictatorial activities of him [Revanna] in Hassan.” “He has alleged that I am collecting `10,000 from all the wine shops in Hassan.
This is not true and I will not be cowed down by threats,” he said.