August 12th 2024.
In the city of Rourkela, there has been a growing concern over the illegal sale of Indian-made foreign liquor and country liquor. The Excise department has been keeping a close eye on the issue, especially with the emergence of unlicensed bars in dhabas and small eateries. This has been a common sight along a stretch of more than 25km, starting from Vedvyas to Bisra. It is alarming to see how easily one can find foreign and country liquor in these establishments. A concerned social activist, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that these dhabas charge a premium for one bottle of IMFL or a pouch of country liquor.
What is even more surprising is the availability of country liquor, which is a banned substance in Sundargarh district. The activist also pointed out that regular seizures of country liquor have been happening. In fact, there was a recent bust of a spurious foreign liquor racket operating in the areas of KBalang and Koira PS. The liquor smugglers were sourcing raw materials from Jharkhand and producing spurious liquor in these areas. It is worth noting that both these places are known for their mining activities and have a large presence of transporters and truckers.
Asif Ali, the Excise Superintendent, expressed the department's concerns over the rise of illegal liquor shops. He stated that their focus is on the spurious IMFL and country liquor, as these can have deadly consequences. However, he assured that they are keeping a vigilant eye on all illegal sales. In the past three months, the department has detected 832 cases and arrested 689 individuals. Additionally, 152 people have been charged. The department has also seized a significant amount of fermented mahua wash, which is used in the production of the popular country liquor 'mahuli'. They have also confiscated 123.23 litres of duplicate IMFL.
The sale of country liquor remains a major challenge for the department. As Ali explained, even a small mistake in its preparation can make it spurious and potentially fatal. The Excise department is working diligently to ensure the safety of the public and prevent the illegal sale of liquor in and around Rourkela.
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