Amid the official preparations for enforcing the first phase of prohibition in Bihar, a prohibition campaign was launched on Thursday here with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asking people to take pledge not to consume liquor and make society aware about its bad effects.
Nitish said the first phase of the prohibition will be implemented from April 1 banning country made and spicy liquor and all steps were being taken to effectively check side effects and consequences of the liquor ban inlcuding its sumggling from bordering States and illicit manufacturing.
“Our target is total prohibition but we will implement it phase wise. After the country made, the foreign liquor will also be banned. The prohibition will be effective and wihout any leakage and loopholes. We have taken into consideration all the aspects and Chief Secretary has held series of meetings with all the stakeholders, the CM said at the programme organised by the education department as well as excise and prohibition department. He added, “The sugar factories have been ordered not to manufacture spirit but ethanol which will be purchased by the oil companies. Meeting with officials of oil companies and sugar factories has also been held.”
Taking a snipe at the police, in presence of Director General of Police PK Thakur, the CM said all the illicit activities and wrong doings are always in the know how of the local police stations hence it is the responsbility of all the District SPs and SHOs of police stations to keep a strict vigil. He also asked public, especially women who were present in large number at the function, to infom the higher authorities if they come across illicit activities like manufacturing and sale of country made liqour in their localities. The officials aresupposed to take action against such activities and if they failed action would be taken against them, he warned.
He said he has written letters to the Chief Ministers of bordering States like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand to check the smuggling of liquor from their States into Bihar. Nitish also announced to open de-addiction centres in each district which will be set up the health department where counselling and medication would be provided to the habitual users.
In the prohibition campaign all resource persons including the women engaged in Akshar Anchal, Anganbari, Asha, Jivika and others have been involved to make the campaign a mass movement and spread awareness, said education minister Ashok Chaudhary.
The CM recounted that the revenue from excise was not to the tune of the number of boozers. “Since I don’t drink I had no idea about it. When I started dialogues with the officials it was found that there was monopoly of manufacturers, whole salers and retailers. This nexus was broken after the wholesale business was given under the control of Beverage Corporation,” he said and added that after the first phase of prohibition, the trade of foreign made liquor would be under the control of the Corporation that too only in urban municipal areas under strict surveliance.