Odisha govt to bulldoze all illegal country-liquor manufacturing units, says excise minister P Harichandan
By Sukant Mohanty
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: The Odisha government is contemplating to conduct a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC)-level probe into the Chikiti hooch tragedy. Besides, it has decided to raze to the ground all illegal country-liquor manufacturing units, said state excise minister Prithwiraj Harichandan on Thursday.
“Let me tell you that chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi is going to take a decision to institute an RDC-level inquiry into the Chikiti hooch tragedy. He will give his report within two months. The steps if any recommended in the report will be taken,” said minister Harichandan.
“The government is taking a tough stand to check illegal liquor selling. The process of carrying out raids across the state started on August 20. A total of 217 illegal liquor units (bhati) have been identified. Raids are being conducted on them. So far, 117 persons have been arrested. Besides, the fermented alcohol (pocha) is also being destroyed. In the next phase, the identified illegal units will be razed down with bulldozers,” said Minister Harichandan.
After the hooch tragedy at Chikiti in Ganjam district which claimed two lives, the state government has transferred the local excise superintendent and suspended an inspector and a sub-inspector.
“I am reiterating what I said at the time of assuming office that the illegal country-liquor manufacturing units will be destroyed within a year. The state government will show any leniency to anyone who is involved in such kind of nefarious activities,” he added.
Latest reports from Ganjam said the local Berhampur division superintendent Pradip Panigrahi was placed under suspension after two persons died due to the consumption of spurious country liquor. Similarly, the excise inspector Ramesh Chandra Mohanty was transferred to Koraput and sub-inspector Prasanna Kumar Dhali was sent to Dhenkanal.
The minister on Wednesday had held discussions with principal secretary (excise) Sushil Kumar Lohani and excise commissioner Narasingha Bhol on the hooch tragedy and sought all the details regarding the incident.
At least 23 persons from Moundpur, Jenapur and Karabalua village of Chikiti block had consumed country liquor from a local unlicensed shop on Monday evening. They later fell ill and were admitted to a nearby hospital in the Chikiti area.
