Excise Department Initiates Stringent Actions Against Illicit Liquor

GUWAHATI: Rattled by the recent hooch tragedy that claimed over 150 lives and left many others disabled for life in Upper Assam, the State Excise Department has decided to initiate several stringent actions to curb the menace of production and consumption of ‘sulai’, the illicit country liquor in the State.

Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya has already written to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal demanding imposition of a permanent ban on the import, store and sale of ‘Laligur’, a form molasses, across the State as it is the major ingredient in the making illicit country liquor. ‘Laligur’ is mainly imported to Assam from the States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and it is being used in making spurious liquor causing a serious threat to public health.

Enhancing the awareness campaign funds against illicit liquor from the existing Rs 33 lakh to Rs 5 crore, the Excise department has also launched a WhatsApp Helpline no 9435052381 to enable citizens to inform the department and the police whenever and wherever they see the store, production and sale of ‘sulai’.

The department will soon launch a massive awareness campaign against illicit liquor. Sources in Dispur told The Sentinel that there is an urgent need to educate the people especially those living in tea gardens and surrounding areas about adverse impacts of consuming illicit country liquor on health. The number of government-funded rehabilitation centres will be increased from two to eight to help the alcohol addicts to lead a normal life after they quit drinking.

There will be regular meetings between officials of the administration, Excise department and Gaon Panchayat presidents at the circle levels across the State to prevent production, sale and consumption of illicit liquor. The officials who fail to prevent the menace will face punitive actions.

The recent hooch tragedy in Golaghat and Jorhat districts took place despite a crackdown against illegal dens and an awareness campaign in the affected area in the second week of February, the Excise department said, bringing to the fore the poor quality of implementation at the grassroots, more so in tea garden areas.

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