Karnataka   

Officials apprehensive about illegal brewing

Staff Correspondent

The ban on arrack comes into effect on Sunday

Chitradurga: With the ban on arrack coming into effect from Sunday, there are apprehensions over the increase in the brewing of illicit liquor.

“The Government’s decision will hardly have any impact on curbing arrack production and supply. In fact, the prevention will only help the growth of illegal production,” said G. Chandrappa, president of Chitradurga District Arrack Sellers’ Association.

He criticised the Government to allowing more wine shops. The Government’s policy of banning arrack was eyewash. “On the one hand, the Government says it has concern for people and there the ban on arrack and on the other, the Government is planning to increase the selling of brandy, which was just another alcohol,” he said.

Mr. Chandrappa said instead of banning arrack or increasing the sale of other alcoholic beverages, the Government should introduce new guidelines asking the arrack manufacturers to reduce the alcohol content in beverage.

Deputy Commissioner of Excise M.S. Tamboli said the department expected increase in illicit production of arrack. To tackle this, it had formed vigilance teams. The department would take the help of the police in this regard. He said that to reduce the workload of the department, the Government had amendment in the law empowering tahsildars and the police to take action against the infringers.

Mr. Tamboli said the ban would help reduce the consumption of arrack, particularly in rural areas, where the supply would be reduced substantially.

Mr. Chandrappa said a large number of people would lose their livelihood because of the ban. In Chitradurga district alone, 3,000 people would be rendered jobless, he said.

Mr. Chandrappa said that the Government should pay Rs. 3 lakh as compensation and Rs. 1,000 as pension to every person involved in the business.

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