Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced a ban on sale of liquor in 17 religious towns in the state.
Yadav made the announcement at the inauguration of a Kabaddi tournament at Gotagaon in Narsinghpur.
After Yadav’s announcement, the cabinet to be held in Maheshwar on Friday will formally put its seal on it.
A blueprint of the excise policy will also come up at the cabinet meeting in Maheshwar. The cabinet will approve the proposal. Yadav said that the government was taking steps to stop a social evil like addiction to alcohol and drugs.
According to sources, liquor may be banned in Ujjain, Mandsaur, Panna, Multai, Datia, Chitrakoot, Mandelshwar, Maheshwr, Omkareshwar, Orchha, Amarkantak, Salkanpur, Mandla, Maihar, Barman (Narsinghpur) , Kundalpur and Bandakpur (Damoh district).
In the aftermath of the decision, 200 liquor shops, along with 17 in Ujjain, may be closed. Yadav said that a decision to ban liquor in the state was taken on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Selling as well as consuming liquor will be totally banned in those cities where it is prohibited, he said.
There will be provisions for punishing those who are guilty of breaking this rule, he said. There has been a demand for imposing a ban on liquor in the state for a long time.
On the demand of former chief minister Uma Bharti, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government decided to close the Ahatas (premises from where liquor is sold). Now, Yadav has taken a step by banning liquor in the religious towns.
Liquor is flowing in MP after My removal as CM: Uma Former chief minister
Uma Bharti has welcomed the decision to ban liquor in religious towns. Her aim is to impose a complete ban on liquor in the state, she said, adding that during her tenure as chief minister, she had freed liquor from the clutches of mafia, but after her removal, liquor swept away the state, she said.
Shops will be renewable with 20% of hike in fees; there is proposal to reduce rates
There will be a proposal to renew the old shops with a hike of 20% of fees. The government plans to stick to its guns over not opening the new shops. There will also be a proposal for reducing the rates of liquor. The cabinet till take a decision on the issue. Besides, keeping heritage liquor will be necessary in hotels and bars. The licence of home bar may also be maintained.
