New liquor excise policy in the offing

“We are conducting a survey on the pattern of demand of the people. We will have to strike a balance between demand and supply,” he added.

The government has conducted a survey on liquor consumption pattern in the state.

The minister also presided over a meeting to take stock of the situation following the tragedy which was attended by Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen and Excise Secretary C K Bachawat and others.

“We will first apprise the standing committee of the Assembly on excise about the new features of the policy. After that we will make it public,” Dasgupta added.

Following the tragedy,150 places in Kolkata and surrounding places have been raided that led to the arrest of 322 people. “It’s a challenge to us. We are working on a mission to eradicate the menace of illicit liquor. People may say that after the heat is over everything will start afresh. But I am telling you this drive will not stop. And I will not look at the political affiliation of a person who is behind this. They will not be spared,” the minister said.

The raids are being conducted jointly by the Kolkata police,excise department,state police and the Government Railway Police.

The minister also gave a broad hint of increasing the price of country liquor. “In the last one year,the price of molasses,which is the main ingredient of country liquor,has increased by 80 per cent but the price of country liquor has increased by 8 per cent. We will have to consider all these aspects,” Dasgupta said.