Liquor producers under CCTV watch

Tribune News Service

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Solan, October 2

To regulate the production, distribution and consumption of liquor in the district after the enforcement of the model code of conduct for the Arki Assembly byelection, officials of the State Taxes and Excise (STE) Department have stepped up CCTV camera surveillance of the manufacturing units and bottling plants and and GPS tracking of their vehicles.

The Solan Deputy Commissioner had directed officials to work out a strategy to check the illegal sale of liquor in the district in view of the byelection.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC), STE, on Thursday issued detailed directions to the field staff in this regard. The Assistant State Taxes and Excise Officers have been directed to report the daily production and dispatch of liquor from the factories to the Deputy Commissioner, STE, to ensure there is no pilferage of liquor.

The Assistant State Taxes and Excise Officers have also been directed to ensure proper functioning of the CCTV cameras at the manufacturing units and bottling plants as well as the GPS tracking of vehicles carrying liquor.

Periodic inspection of the units would also be undertaken to ensure that these devices were functioning properly and there was no other violation.

Himanshu Pawar, Deputy Commissioner, STE, said, “Separate teams have been constituted to keep a track of illegal sale of liquor from excise vends and other premises notorious for such sales. It is also being ensured that there is no pilferage of liquor from the manufacturing and bottling plants”.

To check the illegal sale of liquor from retail vends, the field staff have been directed to furnish the lifting and consumption statements of vends before 10.30 am on a daily basis, besides ensuring that the opening and closing time of liquor shops were regulated and the stock register maintained at every shop. The officials would also have to identify sensitive liquor shops and raid and seize illegal liquor.

The officials of Bilaspur district would also have to step up surveillance on liquor sales as it borders Arki.

There are five liquor bottling plants and two manufacturing units in Solan district. This necessitates the need for added vigil over their operations while the model code of conduct is in force