Excise Minister Damodar Rout on Wednesday informed the Assembly that no decision has been taken to set up new IMFl ‘Off’/CS/OS liquor shops in the 2015-16 financial year in the State.
Replying to a query of Manohar Randhari, he said that in tribals-dominated districts like Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada, consent of the panchayats is needed for opening of a new licenced liquor shops under Section 26 (A) of the Bihar-Odisha Excise Act-1915 as prescribed in the Panchyati Raj Extension to the Scheduled Areas (Act), 1996.
However, the Minister said the provision of consent of gram panchayats is partly implemented in Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam and Kalahandi districts at the time of opening of liquor sops.
The Minister told the House that the Government has no information regarding opening of liquor shops despite the opposition of local people. The Government has no proposal to completely close down liquor shops in Nabarangpur district.