The Hindu : Karnataka News : Arrack ban is a success, Karnataka ready for prohibition: Yediyurappa

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Sunday, Jul 22, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Arrack ban is a success, Karnataka ready for prohibition: Yediyurappa

S. Rajendran

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Government has claimed success in enforcing the arrack ban since July 1 and a survey conducted in certain parts of the State has revealed that nearly 50 per cent of the habitual arrack drinkers have since given up the habit for various reasons. The high cost of IML (Indian made liquor) and lack of access to wine shops have contributed in a big way to this.

Only a small percentage of the arrack consumers have kicked the habit on their own volition. The sales of IML have hit a new high with the first fortnight of July recording an increase of 10 per cent.

Women like Puttamma (55) of Siddapura in Madhugiri taluk of Tumkur district, Bhagyamma (40) of H.D. Kote taluk in rural areas were happy that their men, arrack addicts, had been compelled to keep away from it thanks to the arrack ban. Stree Shakti self-help groups have helped the Government in the implementation of the ban.

The habitual drinkers are said to be suffering from withdrawal symptoms. They have urged the Government to supply adequate stock of medicines to all primary health centres to treat the problem.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who holds the portfolios of Finance and Excise, told The Hindu here on Saturday that with the success of the first phase of the programme (arrack ban), the coalition government “is ready to bring in prohibition. It is for political leaders and political parties and the people to debate. Should they opt for prohibition, the Government will gear up for it. While the Government has sacrificed Rs. 2,000 crore annual revenue from arrack, we will think of other avenues to raise resources if prohibition is brought about.”

Special allocation

He said the Government had made a special allocation of Rs. 50 crore to the Excise Department and an equal amount to the Police Department to closely monitor the arrack ban. Further, the police had been granted permission to open 176 special police stations at one station a taluk to raid, register and prosecute cases relating to arrack and illicit liquor manufacture and sales apart from the cases connected with lotteries which have been banned. Permission had been accorded to recruit 5,000 policemen of the rank of head constables and sub-inspectors to man these new police stations.

Mr. Yediyurappa said the Government had asked the police to invoke the provisions of the Anti-Goonda Act against those indulging in the manufacture and sale of arrack and illicit liquor.

The Excise Department had been asked to take stringent action against owners of wine shops who sold arrack. Most of the offences had been reported from the northern districts of the State.

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