The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Arrack ban comes into effect

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Sunday, Jul 01, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Arrack ban comes into effect

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: The ban on manufacture, transport and sale of arrack throughout the State will come into effect from Sunday morning, and all the 15,248 shops selling arrack were closed on Saturday night.

According to a statement issued by Excise Commissioner C.R. Chikkamatha, letters had been written to deputy commissioners and senior officials of the department directing them to take all steps to impose a total ban on arrack sale.

Both the police and Excise Department had been directed to keep watch on the illegal entry of spirit, arrack or liquor from the neighbouring Goa and Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh into the State.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had announced the ban in the budget. The commissioner said stringent action would be initiated against arrack shops, if arrack sachets were found on their premises. He said that all the 19 arrack manufacturing units had been ordered to be closed from Saturday night. The entire stock of rectified spirit or arrack, if any, with them would be confiscated by the department.

Mr. Chikkamatha said that in view of the increase in demand for Indian-made liquor due to the switchover of arrack consumers to it, a meeting of distillery owners had been convened.

Meanwhile, Home Minister M.P. Prakash, who held a meeting with officials of the Excise Department, said that the Karnataka State Excise Act would be amended and a Bill would be introduced in the coming legislature session.

He said that Section 16 A of the Act would be amended.

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