Cabinet lifts prohibition on liquor, hikes water tax
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 20 2022:
Regulating the provi sion of Manipur Liquor Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2002, a meeting of the state cabinet convened on Tuesday decided to lift the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 from certain areas to legalise sale of liquor in those areas.
The state cabinet meeting held at CM secretariat with CM N Biren Singh in the chair was attended by cabinet ministers.
The cabinet meeting which started from 10.30 am also discussed different agen das of several departments.
Briefing media persons after the cabinet meeting, Tribal Affairs & Hills (TA & H) minister Letpao Haokip said the state cabinet thoroughly discussed to regulate the 'dry state' status by lifting the liquor prohibition legislation from certain areas and accordingly arrived at a decision to lift the prohibition from certain areas.
Despite being a 'dry state', there is no restriction on sale and purchase of liquor in certain areas like army cantonment and battalions of central forces.
Due to liquor prohibition, people consume non-standardised/spurious local liquor and this increases cases of kidney and liver failures in the state.
In view of the emerging health situation brought about by consumption of spurious liquor, the state cabinet decided to lift liquor prohibition from certain areas, he explained.
According to Letpao Haokip, liquor experts from Ireland and Scotland will be called in the state so that local liquor could be produced in standardised manner and to prevent consumption of local liquor from affecting health of the users.
He said that liquor with alcohol percentage of 40 is safe for human consumption.
A sub committee of the state cabinet was sent to Goa recently to study Feni liquor produced in the coastal Indian state.
The sub-committee found alcohol percentage of Sekmai liquor at 41.9 percent when tested in Goa and hence Sekmai liquor could be better than liquor produced in other states if the production could be regulated, he said, adding that standardised Sekmai liquor will not be sold for consumption in the state.
Elaborating on the cabi net decision, Letpao Haokip said the prohibition will be lifted from Greater Imphal, tourist destinations in district headquarters, battalions of armed forces and hotels having lodging facility of not less than 20 beds in the first phase.
Initially, government will give permission to entrepreneurs and relevant government agents will control sale of liquor, he said and appealed to civil society organisations to cooperate with steps taken by the government.
Responding to a query raised by media persons, Letpao Haokip said that legalisation of liquor will not only prevent consumption of spurious liquor but will also enhance state's economy to the tune of around Rs 600 crore annually.
In another key agenda discussed Tuesday relating to home department, the cabinet decided to extend 'disturb area' status by one year but keep the status quo on present areas where Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 is applicable.
In another agenda, the state cabinet approved extension of one-time relaxation of Service Rules of MCS/MPS/MFS officers so that their promotion period could be reduced from the exiting five years to four years.
Promotion period of these officers have been reduced in view of ADC election in hill districts as sub-divisions having no SDOs will be required to keep SDOs and SDCs are to act as sub-registers in enactment of land laws in the hills.
The state cabinet also approved to prorogue the second session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
As many as 31 agendas of different departments were discussed by the state cabinet on Tuesday and most of the agendas were approved.
Among the approved agendas were recruitment of staff for CAF & PD department for paddy procurement programme, legalisation of sand quarrying, increase of water tax to Rs 600 and enactment of a policy for utilisation of handloom and handicraft items at government offices and establishments, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and hotels.