The ban on arrack in the State is a welcome act. However, till the rehabilitation process takes off in the State , the aftermath of the ban can lead to worse situations.

However, the Excise department along with the police have  joined hands to make this ban a success throughout the State.

Now let’s have a reality check of the impact the ban has had in the Raichur district.

Though the manufacture and sale of toddy has been banned in the district, some people especially those hailing from the border villages have been alleged of involving themselves in the manufacture of spurious toddy by using CH(Chloral Hydrate) powder and its sale.

CH powder was procured from those, who normally brought it from the neighbouring States of Maharashtra and  Andhra Pradesh. It was suspected that the powder was being supplied to these two States  from Gujarat, where arrack is banned completely.

Circulation of Chloral Hydrate powder had continued in the district, even when the department had been casting a strict vigil on the villages bordering Andhra Pradesh.

The direct railway link between Mumbai and Raichur might be another route for easy transportation of  the powder into the district.

In the past two and half years the department might have arrested more than 400 persons in the district and seized a huge quantity of Chloral Hydrate powder and spurious toddy.

But the accused in such cases were released on bail after sometime and afterwards they continued with their old trade.

Moreover, the department had  suspected the involvement of influential persons from Karnataka, Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh. The involvement of influential persons was unearthed after the arrest of the former Chairman of RDA (Raichur Development Authority) Khaleel Ahmed Gadwal one year back.

He was arrested and remanded to judicial custody for some time.

Moreover, in a narcotic analysis he had revealed details regarding supply of the powder and the names of the influential persons involved .