Admn bans sale of methanol to check its potential misuse

Days after the hooch tragedy that claimed over 25 lives in several villages in Majitha assembly constituency here, the district administration has restricted the sale of methanol or methyl alcohol in the district in order to curb its potential misuse.

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Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, in her orders issued today, said that some unscrupulous elements were indulging in the illegal trade of methanol which is also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol in the district and there was all possibility of its misuse.

“Its misuse poses a serious threat to human life,” she said. Methanol is used as feedstock, solvent, fuel and anti-freeze substance.

She pointed out that “in view of the risks associated with methanol, it has been declared a poisonous substance under the Punjab Poisons Act, 2012.”

Therefore, in order to prevent its unauthorised and unlicensed sale, the Deputy Commissioner while exercising her powers vested under section 163 of Bharatiya Nagrik Surksha Sanhita 2023, has completely banned the sale and delivery of methanol through courier services.

Apart from this, unauthorised and unlicensed sale of methanol was also strictly prohibited and all authorised handlers and sellers of methanol will also have to submit their stock register and monthly stock information to the Assistant Commissioner of Excise and Taxation concerned in Amritsar.

She directed the Assistant Commissioners (Excise & Taxation) to strictly monitor the compliance of the order.

The DC also asked senior police officials including Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar (Rural), Maninder Singh and other concerned law enforcement agencies to take appropriate action to prevent the illegal sale and misuse of toxic substances and protect public health. The order will remain in effect from today until further orders.

As many as 27 people, a majority of them daily wagers, lost their lives in several villages in Majitha here last month. During a probe, it was found that they had consumed spurious liquor manufactured using methanol which was purchased online. The police had arrested several persons, including two Delhi-based factory owners, who had supplied the methanol.