The state government, in a bid to clear the air on the issue of liquor ban in the state, claimed on Friday that “the government will impose a complete ban on liquor in the state, but in phases”.
The state government, in a bid to clear the air on the issue of liquor ban in the state, claimed on Friday that “the government will impose a complete ban on liquor in the state, but in phases”.
The statement came a day after the Opposition raised doubts about the state government’s intentions on imposing the blanket ban on liquor. Speaking on the issue, state excise and prohibition minister Abdul Jalil Mastan said, “Chief minister Nitish Kumar is committed to imposing a complete ban on all kinds of liquor, our new policy is ready and BSBCL announcement to take over all liquor shop is just a part of new excise policy.”
The excise minister told this newspaper that in the first phase the government will ban all kind of country-made liquor in the state. He said, “From April 1 onwards, as per the announcement, the government has decided to impose a complete ban on the production, distribution and sale of all kinds of country-made liquor only and then, in due course, we will also impose a ban on all Indian-made foreign liquor brands.”
He refused to give any specific date regarding the blanket ban but said “the BSBCL will take over all foreign liquor retail shops in the state so that it can easily shut it down completely at the right time, but I assure you that in 2016 all kinds of liquor will be banned.”
The Opposition BJP had slammed the state government after advertisements by BSBCL surfaced on Thursday inviting tenders for shops and furniture, and directives of the excise department stating that the “corporation will directly run all retail shops in Bihar”.
The chief minister clarified that the government was adamant on banning the consumption and sale of liquor in the state. He said officials have been asked to deal with the issue strictly and launch a massive crackdown against those who violates the excise policy which will come into effect from April 1 onward. “We will move ahead in the direction of banning all kinds of liquor but in phases as we also have challenges to inform people about the harm it does.”
The government, he said, also plans to launch an awareness programme on a large scale, and has given a nod for rehabilitation and de-addiction centres throughout the state. He said the decision to enforce the ban in the state was taken after women, mostly from the rural background, had came forward with a demand to ban the liquor as it affected them directly.
As per new excise policy the government intends to shut down 5344 out 6000 shops in the state. According to excise department around 656 Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited (BSBCL) owned shop will run in all large and small towns of the state.
Clearly the state government somehow jittery in imposing a complete ban on the liquor sale in Bihar in the first phase from which it earns more than Rs. 3000 to Rs. 3500 Crore and in the next fiscal year the government was expecting more than Rs. 4000 Crore from the excise taxes.
Clarifying further, Mr. Mastan told this newspaper that “Nitish Kumar’s stress was mainly on the poor section of the society. He took decision after women from rural background came to him asking him to ban liquor as it affected them directly”. He said in the rural areas sale of country made liquor is quite high and comes cheap due to which the consumption is quite high, “this is why the government wants to impose a ban on country made liquor in the first phase”.
