Excise officials of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh would conduct joint patrolling in border areas, particularly on Ganjam border, to prevent illegal liquor trade in both the States.
A coordination meeting between excise officers of Ganjam district and Srikakulam district was held at Chhatrapur on Saturday to chalk out plans for a joint patrolling to arrest the cross-border flow of liquor.
In order to intensify the patrolling in the border areas, Ganjam district administration has also planned to strengthen the excise staff in border area.
Brahmapur Excise Superintendent Duryodhan Panigrahi said another meeting would be held in next ten days to evolve final strategies.
The Andhra Pradesh Government, which has imposed ban on circulation of country-made liquor, suspect that such liquor could flow illegally from border districts of Odisha.
The two States have decided to intensify patrolling in border areas to prevent any possible hooch tragedy that might happen on New Year occasion, sources said.
The decision to conduct joint patrolling assumes significance in the wake of the recent hooch tragedy in Krishnalanka and Vijayawada of Andhra Pradesh in which at least five persons died.
It may be noted that around 50 persons had died and several others became blind in the hooch tragedies at different places in Ganjam district about seven years ago.