Lucknow: The Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has issued a circular to all District Magistrates directing them to check the declining liquor sale across the state.
The circular issued by Kishan Singh Atoria, Principal Secretary to UP Govt, talks about the depleting revenue from the sale of liquor.
All district magistrates have been directed by the government to take stock of the situation and corrective measures to prevent the decline in liquor sales.
The UP government's push to boost the sale of liquor in the state comes several months after it imposed a blanket ban on fresh licences of liquor shops on highways and refused to renew the licences of existing shops.
According to reports, the first-of-its-kind initiative was taken by the state's Excise department in the wake of guidelines from Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s office.
The principal secretary had then written to all district magistrates seeking a blanket ban on fresh licences of liquor shops on highways.
Stung by the hooch tragedy in Lucknow and the mounting casualties from drunken driving, the government had then ordered invoking the Gangsters Act on all those selling illicit liquor.
The licences for liquor shops are given every March and are a major source of funds mobilisation for the state’s coffers.
