CHANDIGARH: The winds of change are blowing across the rural Punjab and Haryana as panchayats are closing liquor vends in 81 villages in Punjab and 185 villages in Haryana from April.
As many as 92 panchayats in Punjab and 185 gram panchayats in Haryana have passed resolutions in this regard. The excise departments of both the states will also not allow new shops to open up in these villages for the next one year. Sources said that the Punjab excise and taxation department has decided not to open liquor shops in 81 villages of the state, while another six vends will be shifted outside.
This is the first time in the last eight years that so many liquor vends will shut shop at one go. The panchayats are of the view that by taking this step the bonds between the villages will enhance. Shamsher Singh Sarpanch of Anderi village in Sangrur said, “After drinking people would create a ruckus. With the closing down of vends, the atmosphere of the villages will become healthy.”
Under Section 40 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, the panchayat has the power to ban the sale of liquor within the gram panchayat area for a year.