JOIN US'1,900 out of 2,000 illicit liquor manufacturing units closed'
Of the 2000 illicit liquor manufacturing units that were functioning in the State three years ago, the Excise Department has shut down 1900 and odd units so far and the remaining 93 units will be closed down within two months, informed State Excise Minister M P Renukacharya.
Addressing media persons after a review meeting of the Excise officers of Mangalore division on Saturday, he said that in a meeting at the office of the Excise Commission in Bangalore on August 22, a decision was taken to close down all the illicit liquor manufacturing units at a quick pace and make the State illicit liquor free.
The Excise officers have been asked to keep a watch on the illicit liquor units and close them immediately. The officers have been warned of stringent action if they fail to complete the said task, he stated.
The minister hailed the Mangalore division (comprising of Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Shimoga, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts) for standing in top position in the growth index of the Department.
“The division has 1,339 liquor selling units and they have a target of selling 5.42 lakh liquor boxes every month. The division has achieved 98.36 per cent of the target this year. The growth rate of Mangalore division is 7.79 per cent as against State’s average growth rate of 4.81 per cent, in 2012-13,” informed the minister.
Four units function
Stating that the Mangalore division was once popular for the illicit liquor units, he said the division has now come out of the tag. The illicit liquor units have been completely eradicated from the four districts, while four units are still functioning in Shimoga district which are yet to be shut down.
In order to prevent the mushrooming of units, Excise officers have been asked to keep a close watch and conduct inspection of 46 units which were once the illicit liquor manufacturing units, said Renukacharya.
352 cases registered
Furnishing details about the number of illicit liquor cases registered in the division this year, Renukacharya said 352 cases have been registered for manufacturing and supplying illicit liquorthis year.
Of the 352 cases, 70 cases have been registered as severe offences and 214 accused have been arrested.
A total of 9,337 litres of Goa liquor, 564 liters of Indian made liquor (IML) and eight vehicles have been seized so far.
Minister promises help to weightliftersExcise Minister Renukacharya on Saturday, assured two employees of the Excise Department, who would participate in the forthcoming Asian Games, of bearing all their participation expenses.
He announced that the Department would pay Rs 1.5 lakh each to Vincent Prakash Carlo and Sathish Kudroli who will compete in the power lifting category in the Asian Games which will be held in Kazakhstan from September 8.
Vincent Prakash Carlo works as the Second Division Clerk with the Excise Department and Sathish Kudroli is the Sub Inspector.
Vincent is the gold medalist and champion in power lifting in the Commonwealth Championship. With no sponsorers to support him and having not received any response from the Department so far, Vincent on Saturday requested the Minister for help.
The minister also assured of felicitating and providing extra benefits to the duo if they return with the medals.