Recommended Stories
Cuttack: State Excise minister Niranjan Pujari has asked the excise superintendents to come down heavily on bootleggers and persons illegally dealing with intoxicated drugs.
The Cuttack-Khurda liquor tragedy of 2011 allegedly due to intoxicated drugs paved the way for State Excise department to hold a coordination meeting here involving police, excise and drug controller officials.
Addressing the meeting Excise minister Niranjan Pujari asked the excise superintendents to launch a massive crackdown on bootleggers and persons illegally dealing with intoxicated drugs. At least 40 people died and several others suffered visual deficiencies in four bordering villages of Cuttack and Khurda districts two years ago.
Excise secretary S P Thakur called upon the district level officials to make sincere effort to meet the revenue target fixed for the ongoing fiscal year.
Special DG of police Sanjib Marik informed the meeting that the police department is taking all possible measures to cooperate with excise sleuths in cracking down the illegal liquor joints and putting a check on illegal trade in liquor.
The drugs controller too made a similar promise saying the department is keeping a strong vigil on persons dealing with drugs containing methyl alcohol, which is consumed as an alternative to liquor.
Newly appointed excise commissioner Ashok Kumar Tarenia informed that his office is planning to have a toll free telephone facility to get feedbacks from public about the illegal trade in liquor.