Palamu administration has improved its vigil on two manufacturing units of country liquor and spice liquor in the town Daltonganj. These two units are located one each on the station road and near Chiyanki air strip.
There is one go down of Jharkhand State beverage corporation limited too in the town which is the main supplier of foreign liquor and beer to retailers in the district.
The Palamu district excise superintendent Jitender Kumar said vigil at these centres has been increased in the wake of the poll here. The Election Commission Of India has asked for strict vigil and monitoring of liquor and wine in time of poll. The returning officer for the Palamu lok Sabha constituency KN Jha has given strict instructions to excise superintendent to launch and pursue drive against any illegal liquor trade in period of polls as wine wins votes .
According to the excise superintendent officials of the department of excise are conducting continuous raids for seizing raw mahua and fermented mahua — the two big ingredients for making liquor here in Palamu where thirst for water is quenched by a pint of mahua made drink!
Kumar said the illicit liquor makers hide the raw mahua and fermented mahua beneath the ground in some earthen wares and when these are retrieved damages do occur to these ingredients. In some cases illicit liquor is hidden down the earth in the earthen wares and here in its retrieval the earthen wares get broken and the illicit wine/liquor just spills over on the ground.
However where there is illicit liquor in jerry can the seized illicit liquor is preserved for its exhibit in the court of law reminded Kumar.
From March 5 the day Model Code of Conduct came into effect till March 16 the excise officials have seized 456 litres of mahua liquor and 2,0125 kilograms of fermented mahua informed the excise superintendent.
During this period 32 cases have been registered.
It is the bladder liquor (liquor that is carried in tubes/ bladder etc) that is to be curtailed most, conceded Kumar.