Okram for consensus on lifting liquor ban, generating revenue

Imphal: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, while pointing out the brighter aspect of lifting prohibition on liquor in the state in terms of collecting huge revenue like neighboring Mizoram, has categorically underscored the need to seek opinion from different social forums for such a move.
Though Manipur is a dry state, different liquor brands coming from outside the state and local country brew are available everywhere round the clock, Okram told the assembly on Tuesday.There have also been reports of sale of duplicate liquor brands manufactured in other states, said Okram, who also holds the finance portfolio.
Sale and consumption of liquor has been completely banned in Manipur since 1991 under the Manipur Prohibition Act, 1991.
During a discussion and voting on demands for grants (2015-16 fiscal) in respect of different departments, including finance, in the ongoing budget session, Okram said after Mizoram lifted the prohibition recently, only Manipur and Nagaland have remained as dry states in the northeast.
In January this year, Mizoram lifted the 17-year-old ban on consumption of liquor in the state despite opposition from the influential churches. Though lifting of the prohibition would result in huge excise revenue collection in the state, it cannot be done instantaneously, the chief minister said. He underscored the need to hold social discussions like seeking opinion from social workers and NGOs and justify if it hurts the sentiments of people.
It is up to the wisdom of the public to hold discussions on lifting the prohibition, said the chief minister.
Owing to the prohibition, the state is losing huge revenue, Okram said. He added that one of the key reasons behind the state of Tamil Nadu to offer the lowest amount of BPL rice and even free of cost to the beneficiaries is the huge generation of excise revenue.
Manipur, which has no resource of its own, needs lifting of prohibition but the government, at the same time, cannot override the public sentiments, Okram said, while pointing out the need for holding social discourse.