Chandrapur admin to ensure strict liquor ban imposition

The liquor prohibition in Chandrapur in Maharashtra, set to come into effect from April 1, would be strictly implemented, officials said.

All liquor licences, including those issued by the government for personal consumption, will stand cancelled from April 1, said District Collector Deepak Mhaisekar said.

The Collector yesterday convened a meeting of police and state Excise department officials and directed them to ensure strict implementation of liquor ban in the district.

The Maharashtra government had in January declared mineral rich Chandrapur in Vidarbha region as 'dry district', imposing ban on sale, purchase, production and consumption of liquor.

No licences for sale of liquor should be issued by the government in 25 kms of periphery in adjoining districts where there is no liquor ban, for creation of a buffer zone.

The proposals to this effect have been made to the government as a measure for strict implementation of the ban, an official release said quoting Mhaisekar.

The officials were directed to set up 14 new check posts on the district border to maintain a vigil on smuggling of liquor, he said.

The remaining wine stock with the dealers in the district shall be seized after March 31 and a strict vigil would be kept by the staff on railway and bus stations, he said.

The district administration is preparing a database of the employees and workers connected with liquor establishments for the purpose of their rehabilitation, he said.

Chandrapur will be the third district in the state where liquor prohibition is brought in, he said. Earlier, Wardha and Gadchiroli, in east Maharashtra, imposed the same.