Twitter
Advertisement

Chandrapur too may go dry soon

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The state government is planning to impose prohibition in Chandrapur district in Vidarbha. And a proposal on this is to be soon tabled before the Maharashtra cabinet. However, in its two neighbouring districts, Wardha and Gadchiroli, where prohibition has been in force for quite some time now, brew is flowing, illegally of course.

The plan to declare Chandrapur a dry district came about after agitations by local women, who walked 130km on foot in 2010 to press the demand. Some women even tonsured their heads in protest after (the previous) Congress-NCP government dragged its feet on the issue. Women have been pointing to the ill-effects that alcohol addiction has had on their men and youth, and consequently, their families, affecting the security of women and girls at large.

While prohibition was imposed in 1975 in Wardha, where Mahatma Gandhi's Sevagram ashram is located, Naxalite violence-affected and tribal-dominated Gadchiroli went dry in 1992. Once prohibition is imposed in Chandrapur, which is known for coal mines, forest wealth and power plants, the area will become a dry zone.

"That (liquor is) transported clandestinely (into Wardha and Gadchiroli) cannot be denied," excise minister Eknath Khadse told the state legislative council on Monday. He said 12,017 cases had been registered in Wardha in 2013-14 (bringing in liquor) and 12,299 people arrested. In 2014 fiscal, Khadse said, 6,326 cases had been registered so far. In Gadchiroli, 1,945 cases were registered last fiscal, and 1,459 so far this financial year.

"Despite prohibition, people have not reduced consumption of liquor," Khadse admitted. He said the police, in addition to the excise department, had been given the right to act against sale of liquor in these two districts.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement