By IANS,
Lucknow : A panchayat in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district has decided to slap a penalty of Rs.5,000 on those who sell and consume spurious liquor, a villager said Monday.
“A fine of Rs.5,000 on those caught indulging in spurious liquor trade or found consuming it, and a Rs.500 reward for those helping government officials trace unauthorised liquor manufacturing units” has been ordered by Hirnakhedi village panchayat, said village head Neeshu Devi, 30.
“The order intends to free our village completely from the social menace,” Neeshu Devi told IANS by telephone from Bijnor, some 300 km from Lucknow.
“While we are committed to provide Rs.500 to those helping the state machinery nab those involved in the illegal trade, the Rs.5,000 fine has been mentioned in the order only because it acts as a deterrent to the offenders,” she added.
According to villagers, the order issued around 20 days ago, had immediately made a difference in the atmosphere of the village.
“Ever since the order has been pronounced, we have not witnessed liquor drinkers in village markets, fields and other public places,” said Shiv Charan, 50, owner of an eating joint in the village, told IANS.
“Incidents like drunkards misbehaving with women, lying on roads and shouting unnecessarily were common in some areas of the village. But today the situation is all together different,” he said.
Besides pronouncing the order, the panchayat also constituted a 17-member committee to dissuade people from consuming illicit liquor.
“The order by the panchayat seems to have created a fear in the mind of all those linked to the illegal trade. Places where drunkards used to meet regularly now wear a deserted look,” said Sushil Kumar, 32, a private tutor and village resident.
“Most of those linked to the spurious liquor trade have set up small manufacturing units inside their houses. Owing to this, they manage to avoid arrest when raids are carried out,” he added.
While the village head did not recall any deaths in the recent past due to illicit liquor, she said on numerous occasions villagers had fallen ill after consuming spurious liquor.