There is no Government facility for treating the patients addicted to alcohol in the State, stated Excise Minister Damodar Rout in the Assembly in a reply to Independent MlA Sanatan Mahakud on Wednesday.
As part of precautionary measures, all the district Collectors have been asked to direct the liquor shop owners to hang a board in front of their shops mentioning “liquor injurious to health” both in Odia and English, he informed.
As consuming liquor is one’s personal decision, the Government has no scheme or provision to provide treatment to the people suffering from illness due to liquor consumption, Dr Rout said. However, execution of a scheme under which liquor addicts would be kept away from consuming alcohol is pending. There is a provision under the Bihar & Orissa Excise Act, 1915 against sale of liquor to minor boys under 18 years of age. However, the Government has no proposal for providing identity cards with photos to the drunkards for liquor sale, he said.
Meanwhile, six people have been arrested in the past three years on charges of illegal liquor activities at the Konark temple. Also, 11 cases have been registered so far in this connection, he said.
In another question asked by BJD MlA Surendra Sethy, Dr Rout said raids are underway on behalf of the Excise Department to prevent illegal liquor product trade in the Konark area. During the raids, 18 litres of illegal country-made liquor, 23 litre foreign liquor and six kg of bhang have been recovered in the region.