The Excise department will start a month-long drive from April 14 to check manufacture, sale and smuggling of illicit liquor in view of the upcoming urban local bodies elections.
Additional Chief Secretary (Excise) Sanjay R Bhoosreddy said in view of the local bodies elections there was a possibility of increase in the demand of liquor in the state. He said for peaceful and fair conduct of elections and for maintaining orderliness, effective prevention on manufacture, sale and smuggling of illicit liquor was necessary.
“In view of this, instructions have been issued at state level to run a special enforcement drive from April 14 to May 13,” he said in a statement issued here on Thursday.
Bhoosreddy said under the special enforcement drive, joint teams of Revenue Administration, Police and Excise would be formed and road checking would be done in areas prone to smuggling.
He said the excise officers had been instructed that if they find any involvement of mafia in the illegal liquor business, FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Excise Act be lodged against them.
“Surprise checks should be conducted at suspicious dhabas located on national and state highways where illicit alcohol tankers often stop. Complaints are often received about transportation of illegal liquor from grocery, fruit and milk vehicles; such suspicious vehicles should also be checked,” he said.
He asked to ensure cent per cent compliance with orders issued by Excise headquarters for control of methyl alcohol so that any unpleasant and tragic incidents could be avoided.
“Many instances of manufacture and sale of illegal liquor have been caught in closed factories. Therefore, such closed factories should be marked and a constant watch should be kept on them. Special vigil should be kept on the areas where distilleries are located so that there is no possibility of alcohol theft from them,” he said.
The additional chief secretary said wide publicity should be given in the context of liquor sold from illegal places by advertisements in newspapers, handbills, posters and through electronic media. He said the general public should be warned against buying and drinking alcohol from illegal places and also about methyl alcohol being a deadly poison and its use causing blindness and even death.
Bhoosreddy said that if any person had any information about the manufacture, sale or storage of smuggled liquor at any place or any other kind of information related to liquor, he or she should immediately inform the control room of Excise headquarters at Prayagraj having toll free number "14405" or on WhatsApp number 9454466019.