In order to curb violations of the model code of conduct by using alcohol to influence voters before the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019, the Delhi Excise Department has constituted seven special teams comprising 44 officials at district level to monitor recordings of CCTV cameras installed at liquor shops situated across the city.
The step has been taken to keep a tight control over the bulk sale of liquor since Delhi will be voting for the seven Lok Sbaha seats on May 12.
The excise department has also asked the liquor shops to conduct all liquor sales only through scanners to maintain accurate records of the total sales on daily basis, an official said. The designated officials have been put on the job from Sunday and they have started monitoring the recordings of CCTV cameras installed in the liquor warehouses across the city for at least 15 minutes daily.
The Excise department has also recently issued a warning order to all the liquor shops against selling liquor on the basis of “coupon or token”, and directed them to strictly follow opening and closing time of their establishments.
“The first member of each district will obtain the list of retail vends of their concerned district. And allocate shops to each member of the team for viewing of CCTV recordings till completion of the election process,” Deputy Excise Commissioner Sandeep Mishra said in the order send to the officials.
The official said excise department has constituted a four-member team each in all 11 districts each, assigning them to monitor footage of CCTV cameras installed at retail shops on a regular basis. The officials will keep a close eye on all the liquor warehouses for next two months till the elections gets over. Further as per the order, the designated officers will also have to submit a certificate on daily basis after reviewing the CCTV cameras installed at various liquor warehouses.
Mishra further added that the inspection officials have been directed to inform the critical events to senior officers of the department and take necessary action as per laid down rules. The eleven districts where there will be strict enforcements ahead the polls are Central, North-East, new Delhi, South, North, North-West, South-West, South-East and Shahdara - in the National Capital.
The excise department has issued a number of directions as part of its measures to curb distribution of alcohol to influence voters during elections in Delhi.
Among the other directions issued to liquor shops is to direct these establishment that sale should be done only through scanner, and non-compliance of the order will attract strict action.
Further, the the certificates that each officials have to submit in the end of the day should say that CCTVs installed at bonded warehouses are under working condition and no irregular activity regarding illicit storage or transportation of illicit liquor has been noticed. “Bonded warehouses are hereby put under 24x7 CCTV monitoring. No liquor should release without proper license or permit,” said an official.