SATISH HANDA
Information reveals, illicit liquor business is flourishing in Haryana state since past about about a month due to lock down declared in the state as such all licensed English wine as well as country made liquor vends in the state are closed during lock down period but some of them are selling liquor illegally from back door. Excise & Taxation Minister Dushyant Chautala Deputy Chief Minister Haryana said, distilleries in the state has been allowed production and bottling of liquor but marketing would commence immediately after lifting lock down. Chautala expressed deep concern over illegal sale of liquor by few licensed contactors, of them about a dozen have been identified and government may cancel their licenses. Chautala told media persons that nearly 160000 bottles English wine and 10000 litre Desi (illegally manufactured home made) liquor has been seized by excise department and police in 442 raids in the state in which over 1200 persons have been arrested in past one month.
Information reveals that during year 1996-1998 sale of liquor was completely banned in Haryana state by then Chief Minister Bansi Lal when large scale smuggling English wine as well as Desi liquor started from adjoining states and every tenth unemployed youth in the state was found involved in illegal smuggling, sale of liquor and finally state government had to roll back the decision and withdrawn ban over sale of liquor in the state. Chautala said, state will not like to repeat the incident again and at the same time illegal sale of liquor will not be permitted at any cost taking stern action against those involved in illicit practices. He warned, licensed dealers involved in black marketing that in case their stocks would be short their licenses may be cancelled. Chautala said that Haryana state government had fixed target to earn revenue worth Rs 7.5 thousand crore for the current year likely to be adversely affected due to present lock down in the state.
According to information, nearly 60 liquor mafias in about four to five districts in the state including Jind, Panipat, Sirsa and Yamunagar are involved in manufacturing Desi liquor in residential areas as well as agriculture farms in rural areas working as an illegal small scale industry to produce illicit liquor and selling spurious product in more than 60 villages in the state as well as supplying the same in villages close to border area in neighbouring states Punjab, Rajasthan, Western U.P and Delhi through a network. Information also reveals that Jind district in Haryana state is known as hub for manufacture of Desi liquor in the state. On the condition of anonymity a manufacturer told that Desi liquor having manufacturing cost Rs 150 to 200 each litre is sold at the rate around Rs 300 each litre,
According to Nagender Singh Forensic Expert, Desi liquor manufactured under most unhygienic condition mixing and boiling harmful contents including maximum quantity of alcohol, mixed to it sugar cane juice, boiled sugar liquid (Sheera), starch, potato, rice bran and methanol to leave intoxicated effect. He said, Desi liquor is very harmful for eyes, brain and corona patients adversely weakening immune system of a person. He said, excessive use of methanol sometimes causes death and sometime ago two persons were reported died and several others admitted to hospitals at Jind after consuming spurious Desi liquor. Information also reveals that wine mafias use to mix spirit in Desi liquor selling adulterated liquor as English wine, which is extremely harmful for health.
