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Keeping Chandrapur liquor-free may be easier said than done

The state government may have taken an ambitious decision by imposing prohibition in Chandrapur district due to a mass movement which demanded a ban on the brew. But as experience shows, it will have to walk the extra mile to ensure that the district remains dry.

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The state government may have taken an ambitious decision by imposing prohibition in Chandrapur district due to a mass movement which demanded a ban on the brew. But as experience shows, it will have to walk the extra mile to ensure that the district remains dry.

According to government statistics, the neighbouring districts of Wardha and Gadchiroli, which are also under prohibition, have seen repeated instances of illegal liquor sale. In 2013-14, 492 cases were registered in Wardha with liquor worth Rs 69.94 lakh being seized. In Gadchiroli, the seizure was Rs 3.67 lakh in 160 cases in the same period.

However, finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who pushed for prohibition in his district (Chandrapur), said they would involve the citizenry, experts and the government machinery to ensure that the three districts, which are now part of a prohibition zone, remained dry.

The prohibition in Chandrapur, known for green cover, coal mines and power plants, was the culmination of a mass movement led by women and people at large with 588 of 847 gram panchayats demanding it. Around 5,000 working class women went on a 130-km long march from Chimur to Nagpur in 2010. Over 1 lakh women submitted their signatures demanding prohibition.

While prohibition was imposed in 1975 in Wardha, Naxalite violence affected it and tribal dominated Gadchiroli went dry in 1992.

In Wardha, 229 cases involving 18 arrests were registered in 2010-11 and liquor worth Rs 14.32 lakh seized, and in 2011-12 the seizure was at a higher Rs 21.78 lakh involving 256 cases and 48 arrests. The figure rose to a higher Rs 34.31 lakh in 2012- 13 (with 54 arrested accused and 312 cases) and further to 69.94 lakh (492 cases and 130 arrested accused) in the next financial year. In 2014-15 (up to August), liquor worth Rs 42.83 lakh was nabbed with 98 arrests and 311 cases lodged.

In Gadchiroli, the value of the seizure has increased from 1.96 lakh in 2010-11 (with 56 arrests and 217 cases) to 5.49 lakh in 2011-12 (224 cases and 61 arrests) and 3.25 lakh (187 cases and 59 cases) in 2012-13. In 2013-14, 56 people were arrested in 160 cases involving 3.67 lakh worth liquor and in 2014-15 (up to August), the seizure was valued at Rs 2.67 lakh involving 50 arrests in 122 cases.

Chandrapur has 515 liquor licenses and generated Rs 210 crore in excise revenues in 2013-14.

However, Mungantiwar said they would plug legal loopholes, which had led to such cases of evasion and strengthen prohibition laws. "In Wardha and Gadchiroli, there is a ban on sale of liquor and not on consumption. We will extend the ban on drinking to all three places," he said, adding that they would involve locals in the implementation of the ban.

Mungantiwar said licences to drink (on health grounds) were issued in Wardha in Gadchiroli, which led to people taking them in the names of their family members, and then buying liquor bottles for sale. "I feel this agitation (demanding prohibition) will spread across Maharashtra in the future," he said, adding that political parties would have to take the issue on their agenda.

Mungantiwar get anonymous threats
Mungantiwar said he had received an anonymous threat letter at his Chandrapur residence threatening to harm him physically. He added that this was linked to the prohibition decision.

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