'Dance bars in Odisha to be closed; no liquor shops near...': Odisha Excise Minister

Amidst the ruckus created by the opposition and din prevailing in Odisha Assembly over hooch tragedy, the State Excise Minister on Friday made a big statement in the House on the future of dance bars.

According to Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, all the dance bars in Odisha will be closed. Besides, no liquor shops will be opened near schools, colleges and temples, said the Minister.

Earlier, the Opposition had brought an adjournment motion over the Chikiti hooch tragedy. In his reply, the Excise Minister informed that a new excise policy will be brought in taking into account ‘Odia Asmita’.

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There would be massive reforms in the new excise policy. As per law, there would be no liquor shops near religious institutions, schools, colleges and other educational institutions.

The network of illegal trade will be completely wiped out in the state, the Minister said.

Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “The dance bars should be closed as the lives of youths and students are getting ruined. There is also a need to shift the liquor shops near religious institutions and educational institutions. The illegal units in villages should also be closed.”

Bahinipati said that during the previous government, a lot of things were done for liquor only for revenue.

BJP MLA Saroj Padhy said, “Through the move, there would be a lot of check on such illegal activities. Everybody is welcoming the move. In the previous government, they were only concerned about increasing their revenue.”

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