Illegal breweries, smuggling to be big challenges for Nitish Kumar

The prohibition policy may not have proved effective in many states, including Bihar, in the past, but that has not deterred CM Nitish Kumar from announcing the decision to ban alcohol.

At a time when his government faces the challenge to his seven-point nischay (resolve) at an estimated budget of Rs 2.70 crore over the next five years, he has taken a big, bold decision to cut off a major source of revenue.

Bihar's liquor trade has witnessed a robust growth in the past 10 years largely due to the Nitish government's liberal policy which it had introduced in 2007. Under that policy, licence for liquor vends were distributed liberally resulting in the mushrooming of alcohol kiosks even in the panchayats. It gave a big boost to the excise department's revenue, but earned the government widespread criticism from the Opposition, social workers and, above all, women who took to streets protesting against the rampant sale of liquor.

The government is set to face a bigger challenge not only to stop the sale of liquor, but also prevent setting up of illegal breweries of country-made liquor. During the recent polls, the EC had seized 6,87,981 litres of liquor worth Rs 12.03 crore. Spurious liquor has contributed to many tragedies in the past. Experts fear prohibition might spur the setting up of more illegal breweries across the state. The government will also have to deal with the flourishing liquor mafia which has been minting money through illegal sale over the years.

The Nitish government also faces the challenge of preventing smuggling of liquor not only from the adjoining states such as UP, West Bengal and Jharkhand but also from Nepal with which it shares international border.