Measures for effective implementation recommended
Morung Express News
August 19
KOHIMA: In a new development that could lead to endless debates on the pros and cons of Liquor Prohibition, the Committee on Estimates (CE) today recommended measures for the government to take, for the ‘effective implementation of partial prohibition’ in the State. Chairman of the CE, Khutovi submitted the report on the findings of the committee, which was presented in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. Although technically the recommendations of the committee are not formally described as directions by the House, they are in practice, regarded as such, as per long standing convention of legislative procedures. Whether the government will accept, what could turn out to be a controversial proposal, recommendations of the Estimates Committee are generally accepted by the government and acted upon.
The Committee in its 79th Report on the Estimate of the Excise Department (Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act-1989) has stated that limited numbers of licenses for sale of liquor, only during limited time and day may be issued. However this should be made after proper verification of age of applicant and location of shop.
For effective implementation of partial prohibition, the Committee also recommended that reputed hotels and restaurants may be issued with licenses to sell, consume within the hotel precincts, while the quality of alcohols should be strictly checked and controlled, dry days should be strictly observed and those not adhering to rules should be imposed with fines or their license seized. Further the report also suggested that the volume/quantity of consumption of liquors be strictly regulated by issue of orders to the proprietors, owners and sellers in the hotels/restaurants.
It also suggested that shops selling alcohol to minors should be warned and failure to abide would lead to fines or cancellation of licenses. The proposal also suggested that identity card may be issued for consumers after properly verifying their age while restrictions be made for the volume/quantity purchased by an individual or hotel in a day. Other restriction for implementing partial prohibition was that, liquor shops should not be located anywhere near school, church or office premises.
The Committee also recommended that unruly behavior emerging out of drunkenness, drunken driving and disruption of public safety be checked and dealt with strict actions. It also suggested that law enforcing agencies should see to it that the armed forces did not sell above the prescribed limit/quota. The random flow of liquor should be strictly checked, restriction to drink in public places etc should be strictly enforced and unauthorized sale and use should be dealt with stringent measures, the report stated.
It was also suggested that the revenue earned should be used for generating employment and also to promote awareness programs on the evil effects of liquor. The committee pointed out that the panchayat, area council members, youth of the locality be authorized to help the authorities in checking illegal sale and use of alcohol.
Interestingly, the committee also suggested that in keeping with the age old tradition of the ancestral Naga household, the sale of Rohi and Zu in private houses should be strictly prohibited by passing an Act and the violators should be sternly dealt with to thwart the sales by any individuals.
It may be mentioned that one of the functions of the Estimates Committee is to suggest alternative policies for the government in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration.
