To check production, sale and smuggling of illicit liquor during the urban local bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Excise department will run a month-long special enforcement drive from April 14 to May 13, a senior officer said here on Thursday.
Additional Chief Secretary Excise Sanjay R Bhoosreddy said that notification has been issued for election of mayors, corporators, chairperson and members of all Municipal Corporations, Nagar Palika Parishad and Nagar Panchayats in the state.
“In view of the civic elections there is a possibility of an increase in the demand of liquor in the state and for the peaceful and fair conduct of polls and for maintaining orderliness, effective prevention on manufacture, sale and smuggling of illicit liquor is necessary,” he said.
He said that during the special enforcement drive, joint teams of Revenue Administration, Police and Excise should be formed and road checking should be done in areas prone to smuggling.
“Raids on the suspected places of manufacture and sale of illegal liquor will be conducted and necessary cooperation of GST and Transport Department would also be taken,” he said.
Bhoosreddy said that the field Excise Officers have been directed that intensive and surprise checks would be conducted at suspicious eateries located on national and state highways where alcohol tankers often halt. “While keeping a watchful eye around the licensed premises. it should be ensured that in no case illicit liquor be sold illegally outside the shop. Complaints are often being received about transportation of illegal liquor from grocery, fruit and milk vehicles, such suspicious vehicles should also be checked intensively and meticulously,” he said.
He said that directives have been issued for vigilant monitoring in view of the possibility of
illegal liquor activities in such places of the districts where liquor shops are unsettled.
“Many cases of manufacturing and sale of illegal liquor have been caught in closed factories. Therefore, such closed factories should be marked and a constant vigil should be maintained on them,” he said.
The ACS said that it has been asked that a special vigil should be maintained on the areas where distilleries are located so that there is no possibility of alcohol theft from them. “In order to prevent the misuse of alcoholic medicines and tinctures in the form of liquor, samples alcoholic medicines and tinctures in the form of liquor, samples should be taken after inspecting such shops with the cooperation of the drug department, and if samples are found sub-standard in the test, action should be taken to cancel their license with the help from the drug department,” he said.
He said that it has been directed that excise retail shops and wholesale licenses should be
inspected according to the checklist issued to ensure that illegal liquor is not being sold from there. “Barcode and QR code of the stock located at the shop should be checked carefully,” he said.
Bhoosreddy said that if any person has any information about the manufacturing, sale or storage of smuggled liquor at any place or any other kind of information related to liquor, then he should immediately inform the control room of Excise Headquarters at Prayagraj having toll free number 14405 and information can also be given on WhatsApp number 9454466019
