Two persons were arrested in Shamli district after police seized 216 cartons of liquor being smuggled into Uttar Pradesh from Haryana.
A small truck was intercepted at a police checkpost here last evening and 216 cartons of liquor valued at around Rs 10 lakh were seized, SHO of Jhinjhana police station R B Singh said today.
Two persons identified as Sonu and Shanki, both residents of Haryana, have been arrested in this connection, he added.
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The chief minister said that no license would be granted
for sale and consumption of alcohol in places like hotels, club and bars in towns and cities too with immediate effect.
He, however, said Army cantonment areas would be out of it as they regulate sale and consumption of alochol in their own way.
Asked about fate of liquor manufacturing companies and factories existing in the state after total ban order today, the CM said they could continue manufacture but can not trade in it within the state.
"Besides, they have to abide by rules like having digital lock system and GPS monitoring equipment in vehicles transporting the liquor manufactured in outlets in Bihar to places outside the state for sale," Kumar said.
In reply to a question as to what would be done with nearly 36,000 litres of foreign liquor lying with Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited (BSBCL) which they had to supply to limited outlets in towns and cities under its strict supervision, the CM said the Excise department would prepare an action plan for disposal of residual IMFL.
"It (residual IMFL) should be destroyed as its not a good thing to keep in archive," Kumar said speaking his mind on the stock of foreign brands lying with the corporation.
The CM said a high level committee headed by Development Commissioner and which would have Principal Secretaries of departments like Industries, Forest and Environment, Excise, Cooperative and COMFED would dwell on the issue how to make trade out of toddy trees more beneficial to people associated with it as was done in Tamil Nadu, which has maximum number of palm trees.
The committee would work in close association with Agriculture University of Tamil Nadu and ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) to prepare a scheme for toddy trees products which would be put into action from next year, he said.
The CM said many beneficial products like preparing mat and tokri (basket) out of toddy tree products could be developed to help people associated with the trade to continue their livelihood with even better profits.
"Survey has brought to light that more than Rs 6,000 annually could be generated from a toddy tree by this means which is far more than earned through sale of fermented toddy drink," Kumar said.
He said that the state government would provide technical and financial assistance in making the trade out of toddy trees more beneficial to those linked with it.
"Like collection and marketing of milk through COMFED (Bihar State Milk Co-Operative Federation Ltd.), Neera (toddy liquid before fermentation) trade would also be developed in an institutionalised manner," Kumar said.
