Date:19/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111956641100.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Police stations to curb illicit liquor

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: With a view to curbing manufacture and sale of illicit and spurious liquor, the State Government has decided to set up exclusive police stations in the State.

This was decided at a top-level meeting of officers convened by Home Minister V.S. Acharya and Excise and IT-BT Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu to review the working of the Excise Department.

Briefing presspersons here on Monday, Dr. Acharya said that of the 41 police stations, two each will be sanctioned to 10 districts and one each in the remaining districts.

A proposal will be submitted to the Finance Department and after its approval, the subject will be placed before the Cabinet. He said the revenue of the Excise Department has come down by two per cent during the excise year. He said that the Rs. 5,600 crore target fixed for the Excise Department for 2008-09 ending June will be achieved.

Dr. Acharya said that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had announced in his budget that exclusive police stations would be set up for curbing sale of illicit and spurious liquor.