Regulations for legalization of liquor in few days: N Biren

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said that regulations for legalization of liquor will be produced in the next few days.

The Manipur cabinet on September 20 last decided to partially lift the prohibition on liquor partially to boost the state’s revenue as well as minimize health hazards caused by the consumption of adulterated alcohol.

Amid sharp reactions against the government decision from various quarters, the chief minister had recently assured production of a whitepaper on the legalization of the liquor.

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Drafting of the regulations for the legalization of liquor is in progress and it will come up within a few days’ time, Singh said while responding to queries from the reporters on the sideline of flagging off 12 GPS enabled highway patrol vehicles from the Western Gate of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat today.

He said that the government knew people’s apprehensions on the legalization of liquor.

Once the drafting of the regulations is completed, the same will be put in the public domain for inviting suggestions and comments, he also said.

The same will also be made available to ‘mothers’ who are protesting against the government decision, he added.

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Singh said that legalization of liquor does not mean setting it free to sell anywhere and consume by everybody. The liquor is to be legalized under certain rules and regulations, he further added.

The apprehensions being felt by the people is due to misinterpretation by some vested interest people, the chief minister also said.

The chief minister added that in the draft regulation, there will be various prohibitory sections.

NNN

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