Angul: Apart from the winning candidates, it was a boom time for liquor traders during the recently held panchayat elections with the district registering liquor sale of over 10 lakh litre in the month of January and February, according to a report.
Several organisations have been rallying for total prohibition in the state. Despite such public outcry against liquor sale, the excise department has failed to keep the elections free from alcohol.
About 10.19 lakh litre of liquor was sold only in Angul district, the department in a startling revelation recently disclosed.
A lot of political activities were reported following the election notification issued December 27, 2016 and they continued till February end. For the last few years, liquor sale has been on the rise in rural pockets as candidates often try to influence voters by offering them liquor.
Sources in the excise department reveal that Angul district has recorded sale of 2.52 lakh litre of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) in January whereas it shot up to 2.86 lakh litre in February. The sale increased in these two months due to the elections, it was learnt.
Similarly, the sale of beer also went up in these months. While 55,035 litre of beer was sold in January it got doubled and reached 1.28 lakh litre in February.
The sale of country liquor also recorded unexpected growth in the time of elections. While 43,098 litre of country liquor were sold in January, it increased by six times in February. Nearly 2.50 lakh litre of country liquor was sold in the second month of 2017.
Excise department has five branches- Angul Sadar, Boinda, Athamallik, Pallahara and Talcher – in the district. Talcher and Angul branches registered record sale of IMFL and country liquor respectively.
Similarly, Athamallik and Pallahara featured at the bottom of the chart in terms of foreign and country liquor sale.
When contacted, excise superintendent Harischandra Sethy said it is difficult to put restrictions on sale of liquor during elections.
However, the department had taken special measures to check liquor smuggling by opening a control room and conducting frequent raids.
The department had registered 81 cases while 71 persons were arrested on the charge of smuggling liquor.
Similarly, 1,312 litre of country liquor was seized and 24,645 kg pouch liquor was destroyed.
About 9,900 litre of foreign liquor was also seized during the elections, department sources said. PNN
