Nagaland Govt Not Considering to Lift Ban on Liquor

Kohima, Jul 20 : Nagaland Excise Minister MC Konyak has said that the there is no proposal with the Government of Nagaland to lift the ban ensuring total prohibition of liquor in the state.

Replying to the question of opposition Congress Member Y Hewoto Awomi on the floor of the House, Mr Konyak said the Excise Department had convened an informal meeting with the various NGOs and civil societies on July 2 at Kohima, where several speakers supported lifting of the 20 year ban on liquor in the state as it had failed totally while some others were in support of continuing the prohibition.

Mr Konyak added that the State Government will take any decision in this regard only after broad based consultations with various social organisations.

In the supplementary question raised by Mr Awomi on the failure of the ban in Nagaland, Mr Konyak admitted that there was shortage of staff in the Excise Department to look at all the routes of bootlegging throughout the state.

He, however, informed that all the main entry points were being manned by the Excise Departmental personnel to check and stop illegal entry of liquor into the state, yet a section of the bootleggers are still pulling in huge quantity of liquor for their personal profits taking advantage of high percentage of consumers.

Mr Konyak also assured the House that the state government will take stringent measures to implement the Nagaland Total Liquor Prohibition Act, 1989.