Liquor ban in Bihar is not successful, says Ram Kripal Yadav

Asserting that liquor ban in Bihar is not successful, Union Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav on Friday claimed that illegal sale of liquor has increased to a large scale in the state.

“There is a complete liquor ban in Bihar but it is not successful. Illegal sale of liquor has increased to a large scale (in the state),” Yadav, who is a Lok Sabha MP from the Pataliputra constituency of Bihar told mediapersons at BJP’s state headquarter Kushabhau Thakre Parisar.

“Earlier, it was delivered through (outlet) counters, now it is available through home delivery (in Bihar),” he said answering a query on rising demand by people for ban on sale of liquor in Chhattisgarh as it was done in Bihar.

“Liquor is still being manufactured and sold in every village (of Bihar),” the union minister for state added.

Yadav said that he and his party are in favour of liquor ban but it should be implemented in a well-planned manner which the Chhattisgarh government is doing here.

“In Chhattisgarh, illegal liquor is being sold on a large scale. Therefore, the state government has taken steps to sell liquor (through the state owned corporation) to check the illegal sale,” he added.

An 11-member committee has been constituted by the state government to conduct study of states likes Gujarat and Bihar where liquor ban is imposed, he said, adding, “Chhattisgarh government is concerned over the issue and therefore heading step-by-step in this direction.”

The committee would study the impact of liquor ban and how to curb illegal sale of liquor.

On the basis of the committee’s report the state government will initiate steps in this direction, Yadav added.

Asked about pending payment of wages amounting to crores of rupees under MNREGA scheme, he said, very soon payments will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries and the problem will be solved.

The union minister of state also expressed satisfaction over performance of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission and other central government sponsored schemes in Chhattisgarh.

“The centrally sponsored schemes are being implemented by the state government in a good manner. However, there are some schemes in the state for which instructions have been given to expedite its progress,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Yadav chaired a meeting of the officials of state’s Panchayat and Rural Development department here at Mantralaya.

He took stock of progress of all schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, computerisation of land records and others during the meeting.

State’s Panchayat and Rural Development minister Ajay Chandrakar and officials were present during the meeting.