Concerning the partial lifting of liquor prohibition from the state, a committee report will be submitted within March, and the government will book those found buying Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from the security canteens, said leader of the House N Biren on Friday.
He was informing the house during the third session of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly in response to a starred question raised by opposition MLA K Ranjit Singh during the question hour.
Seeking information, opposition MLA K Ranjit Singh in his starred question asked through the Speaker what necessary steps were taken by the state government after the state cabinet’s decision on the partial lifting of the ban on alcohol in the state.
He questioned if there were any provisions for legalisation of Distilled Indigenous Country (DIC) liquor being manufactured in the areas of Sekmai and Andro. He sought answers on whether buying of IMFL by a civilian from the security canteen is permitted and if the state is collecting taxes from selling of DIC liquor?
Supplementing the starred question, Ranjit said the state police have seized huge amounts of liquor including IMFL and DIC liquor before the state cabinet’ decision on partial lifting of liquor. After the state cabinet’s decision on the partial lifting of alcohol, the police officials have gone silent and the number of liquor vendors have been increasing, he said. He also questioned the present status of the legalization of alcohol.
In response, Biren informed the House that after the state cabinet’s decision on partial lifting of alcohol from the state, an expert committee has been formed to produce a white paper in order to seek opinion from the public in masses. The report will be included on the white paper on the legalisation of DIC liquor, he mentioned.
He further informed the House that buying of IMFL by a civilian from security canteens is illegal.
However, no civilians have been found buying IMFL from the security canteens till date, he mentioned. If any civilian is found buying IMFL from the security canteen, then the police will book them and will take necessary action, he added.
In the year 2021-22 the state government has collected tax as excise duty of Rs 15.52 crore, he added.
