Excise minister rules out blanket ban on liquor

Bhubaneswar: Excise minister Damodar Rout today said the State government has no plans to impose a blanket ban on liquor in the State.

Talking to newsmen, Rout said, “We don’t have any proposal to put a complete ban on liquor. Keeping the lifestyle during the present day society in view, the blanket ban is not practical.”

He, however, added, “I have got a letter from a deputy secretary mentioning that he would place a proposal before the State government for the blanket ban on liquor for consideration. Till date no such proposal has been put forth before me.”

He further stated the government will try to facilitate supply of liquor in a transparent and legal way.

Meanwhile, anti-liquor organisation Dhenkanal Zilla Surakshya Mahasangathan has threatened to take the legal recourse for a blanket ban on liquor after it failed to get any positive response from the State government. The Mahasangathan had filed petitions before the President, Governor and Chief Minister demanding the blanket ban.

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Tankadhara Kanar, president of the Dhenkanal Zilla Mahila Surakshya Mahasangathan, said, “We will drag the State government to the apex court if needed. Our aim is to ensure a blanket ban on liquor by 2020.”

Slamming the State government, Padmacharana Naik, president of the Milita Odisha Nisha Nibarana Abhiyan, said, “To get votes easily during polls, the government is encouraging liquor consumption. But, at different areas across the State, we are trying to create a strong view to mount pressure on the government to ban liquor.”