Bhopal: Under a provision of the new Excise Policy of the MP state government, a list of habitual customers of liquor shops will be drawn up.
Statutory health warnings on liquor bottles and shops and shifting of around 2000 liquor shops away from highways and closure of 58 shops located on Narmada banks were the highlights of the new Excise Policy of the state government for the current fiscal, which was cleared by the cabinet here on Monday.
Expressing concern over the rise in the incidents of outraging modesty of women, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today advocated for a provision to hang perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
Shops to be shut include Dindori (two shops), Mandla (6), Jabalpur (3), Narsinghpur (7), Raisen (3), Hoshangabad (12), Sehore (7), Harda (2), Dewas (2), Khandwa (4), Dhar (4) and Khargone (6). Similarly in compliance to the order of Supreme Court 1427 liquor shops will be shifted 500 metre away from the highways.
The state’s BJP government added that no new liquor shops would be allowed to come up in the state. “These shops will be shifted to other places, beyond 500-meters of such highways”, the minister added.
The cabinet also approved a proposal from the excise department to shut down all the English/country liquor shops located within the radius of 5 kms from the banks of Narmada river.
Asked whether the government is heading for a “complete prohibition” in the State, Mr. Mishra replied: “Chief Minister’s intent seems to be leading in that direction”.
“Moreover, ultra-modern features will be added in the hologram for the year 2017-18. Also, arrangement to verify the legal source of liquor has been made in the policy”, Mishra said.