Excise dept to be activated with elections approaching
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 19 2011:
Considering the excessive use of drugs and Indian made foreign liquor in the state with the coming of the state assembly elections, the state government is all set to make functional the Excise posts of the state.
Reliable source from the Excise department revealed that although Manipur has been declared a dry state, people of the state use of drugs and alcohol eccessively.
The situation tends to get aggravated with the coming of the state Assembly elections.
To check the use and transportation of Indian made foreign liquor in the state during the time of election, the state government has decided that all the 32 Excise post in the state will be made functional as soon as the elections dates are declared.
The source further went on to say that the Manipur Liqour Prohibition Act 1999 and Rules came into effect in the state from April 1, 1999 .
Since then the state was declared a dry state.
But the military and para military forces, BRO and state forces were exempted from the act, with them being categorized as "Exempt category" .
Since the Indian made foreign liquor is being transported into the state for consumption by the security forces deployed in the state, the transported liquors and the illegally transported by businessmen, easily reach the people of the state.
Apart from this, the local made liquors are also available to the public.
Consequently, the government has taken up steps to make the Excise post functional.
These posts had become defunct since the implementation of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1999 and Rules in 1999 .