Excise department’s app to help citizens blow the lid off illicit liquor

If you spot someone selling or brewing illicit liquor, you can soon inform the excise department on an app, without divulging your name. On October 25, the state excise department is going to launch the app for citizens to inform officials about illicit liquor, with features in the app protecting the informer’s identity.

The state excise department has taken a multi-faceted approach towards tackling the menace of illicit liquor for the first time after the Malvani hooch tragedy in 2015, in which more than 90 people had died. The app has features to connect common citizens with the excise department, so that the illegal practice of brewing hooch can be prevented. “The app is for general citizens and their identity would be protected after they send any particular information about illicit liquor. We have earlier started a toll-free number and a website to seek similar information. The app is more personalised and we would soon be connecting it with the police department to curb the sale of illicit liquor via swift action against the same,” V. Radha, the commissioner of the state excise department, told The Asian Age.

The department has received 1,192 complaints about illicit liquor from across the state within a few months of launching the complaint facility. The app will now further help citizens disclose information regarding the illegal liquor business, the commissioner said.

The excise department has also ensured that the officials take feedback from the complainant to confirm that the particular illicit liquor business has been completely stopped.

“This is the first time that our officials are calling the complainants back and seeking their feedback about the action taken by the department. Sometimes, the illicit liquor brewing stopped at one place can restart at another within the vicinity,” Ms Radha said.

The department is also going to install CCTV cameras at about 100 sugar factories that have distilleries.

“We have faced revenue losses as the distilleries do not disclose complete information. This will prevent the distilleries from indulging in any illegal act,” another official from the excise department said.