Biren to call all party meet on prohibition act

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 31

Chief minister N. Biren Singh today urged all the members of the Assembly to stand as one to firmly deal with the liquor business in the state to prevent repeat of the tragedy that struck Oinam Sawombung, claiming five lives and sending scores to hospitals.

“We have only two options. One is to amend the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act to ban brewing completely or legalise it if country business cannot be stopped and drives against distilling and bootlegging cannot check it,” Biren, who is also the leader of the House, said responding to a call attention motion moved by Congress member K. Meghanchadra.

Biren said drive against liquor is not going to check the menace.

Meghachandra urged the chief minister to investigate the Oinam Sawombung liquor tragedy, punish guilty persons and pay compensation to the kins of the victims.

The member charged that the government has failed in enforcing Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991.

Deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar said till today five people have died and 81 treated at hospitals. While 24 are still undergoing treatment in critical condition in two hospitals, the rest were discharged.

He said Mayang Imphal police registered a case and arrested two distillers. Liquor samples were collected and sent for laboratory test.

Joykumar did not rule out possibility of mixing of methyl alcohol, which is very poisonous in the liquor that caused the tragedy.

Responding to the motion Biren said after his government came, drives against liquor and drug by the police with helps from communities have been intensified. During the past four months 11,000 bottles of IMFL and 8000 litres of country liquor have been seized.

Brewers and bootleggers take advantage of the provision in the act that allows brewing for use during religious and customary rituals with prior permission from the excise commissioner and produce huge quantity of liquor, leading to such tragedy. Many died due to liquor and many women become widows, he said.

“The government takes the matter very seriously. Drives are not going check brewing and bootlegging. For the interest of some sections all the people should not be made to suffer. There should not be two laws for a state,” Biren said referring to the provision that allows brewing.

The chief minister further said a meeting of all political parties can be convened after the Assembly session. “All the members should be united and unanimous. If necessary an ordinance can be issued. If enforcing the act is not going to be successful we can consider legalising it so that quality liquor can be produced,” he said.

The chief minister appealed to distillers and bootleggers to stop their business and opt for government schemes for livelihood.

The Congress member urged the chief minister to take initiative as soon as possible, if possible even during the current session.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 31

Chief minister N. Biren Singh today urged all the members of the Assembly to stand as one to firmly deal with the liquor business in the state to prevent repeat of the tragedy that struck Oinam Sawombung, claiming five lives and sending scores to hospitals.

“We have only two options. One is to amend the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act to ban brewing completely or legalise it if country business cannot be stopped and drives against distilling and bootlegging cannot check it,” Biren, who is also the leader of the House, said responding to a call attention motion moved by Congress member K. Meghanchadra.

Biren said drive against liquor is not going to check the menace.

Meghachandra urged the chief minister to investigate the Oinam Sawombung liquor tragedy, punish guilty persons and pay compensation to the kins of the victims.

The member charged that the government has failed in enforcing Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991.

Deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar said till today five people have died and 81 treated at hospitals. While 24 are still undergoing treatment in critical condition in two hospitals, the rest were discharged.

He said Mayang Imphal police registered a case and arrested two distillers. Liquor samples were collected and sent for laboratory test.

Joykumar did not rule out possibility of mixing of methyl alcohol, which is very poisonous in the liquor that caused the tragedy.

Responding to the motion Biren said after his government came, drives against liquor and drug by the police with helps from communities have been intensified. During the past four months 11,000 bottles of IMFL and 8000 litres of country liquor have been seized.

Brewers and bootleggers take advantage of the provision in the act that allows brewing for use during religious and customary rituals with prior permission from the excise commissioner and produce huge quantity of liquor, leading to such tragedy. Many died due to liquor and many women become widows, he said.

“The government takes the matter very seriously. Drives are not going check brewing and bootlegging. For the interest of some sections all the people should not be made to suffer. There should not be two laws for a state,” Biren said referring to the provision that allows brewing.

The chief minister further said a meeting of all political parties can be convened after the Assembly session. “All the members should be united and unanimous. If necessary an ordinance can be issued. If enforcing the act is not going to be successful we can consider legalising it so that quality liquor can be produced,” he said.

The chief minister appealed to distillers and bootleggers to stop their business and opt for government schemes for livelihood.

The Congress member urged the chief minister to take initiative as soon as possible, if possible even during the current session.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/2415-biren-to-call-all-party-meet-on-prohibition-act