No plan for state-wide prohibition in Maharashtra: Minister

There is no plan to impose a state-wide prohibition in Maharashtra, where sale and manufacture of liquor is banned in a few districts, Excise Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told the assembly today.

The government has no plans to extend prohibition, in force in a few districts, to the entire state, he said.

The existing ban on sale and manufacture of liquor in Chandrapur district will not be lifted, Bawankule said.

He was responding to a calling attention notice moved by Vijay Waddetiwar (Congress) who said limited prohibition, in force for three years, has not yielded good results.

Apart from Chandrapur, Wardha, a place associated with Mahatma Gandhi, and Gadchiroli have been declared 'dry' districts.

"Will the government extend the prohibition policy to the entire state to ensure its strict implementation?", the Congress MLA asked.

Waddetiwar said illicit liquor worth Rs 90 crore had been seized in the last three years (from these districts).

In his reply, the minister said in Chandrapuralone 26,000 people had been arrested in the last three years for illegal liquor trade.

The Gram Rakshak Dals (village protection teams) have been formed and WhatsApp groups created as part of efforts to ensure effective implementation of limited liquor ban, he said.

He admitted liquor is illegally brought into Chandrapur from adjoining states as it is a border district.

Bawankule appealed to legislators to help in formation of Gram Rakshak Dals at gram panchayat level.

"The law is so strict that government officials will be punished if they don't take action after the Gram Rakshak Dal brings to their notice illegal sale or manufacture of liquor," he said.