In view of the Aligarh hooch tragedy which allegedly claimed 90 lives and similar incidents in the recent past, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to closely track the end use of methyl alcohol, the chemical used by bootleggers.
Additional Chief Secretary, Excise, Sanjay R Bhoosreddy said on Friday that orders have been issued by the government to keep a strict vigil on the use of methyl alcohol to prevent a repeat of such tragedies.
“If any other unit, other than the licenced units for producing methyl alcohol, is found to be producing the chemical in any district, stern action shall be taken against it,” he said. Production, storage and sale of methyl alcohol would be closely monitored and its tanks and containers would be clearly marked with ‘methyl alcohol’, he added.
“The government has made it mandatory for the tankers transporting methyl alcohol to be marked with information and legal warnings about the toxic substance being transported and ‘poison’ sign on both sides in bold and white letters has to be made compulsory,” Bhoosreddy said.
“Whenever methyl alcohol is sold secretly by the drivers or cleaners from the tankers at the eateries on highways and illicit liquor is manufactured by people in this illegal trade, it can result in deaths,” he said.
“In view of this, the tankers shall be properly sealed so that methyl alcohol can’t be stolen from them. The tankers shall be despatched only after this is confirmed,” he added.
The additional chief secretary said stern action would be taken against those found involved in the illegal trade of methyl alcohol. In case of deaths due to consumption of illicit liquor made from methyl alcohol, the officers and employees concerned would be held responsible, he said.
He added that Gangster Act and NSA would be invoked against those found involved in such activities.