Excise dept to crack down on illicit liquor biz

Dharwad: The district administration and excise department are determined to end the menace of illegal liquor business in the district, said deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil.
Chairing a meeting of district-level standing committee to tackle the illicit liquor business here on Thursday, he said continuous raids on hooch producing kilns by excise officials has resulted in a drastic reduction in illegal activities and action against them will continue.
He said there were 29 hooch producing units in the district a decade ago and now the number has come down to two. The business is still alive in Annigeri and Tadasinakoppa and that needs to be curtailed, he said.
The DC said measures should be taken to identify the families engaged in illicit liquor business and they should be rehabilitated with alternative legitimate sources of income.
Deputy commissioner of excise Shivanagouda Patil said Rs 284.4 crore has been collected in the district till the end of July 2020 in the financial year from liquor sales from 276 licence holders.
Police officials present at the meeting said the department will provide necessary assistance to the excise department in curbing the illicit liquor business.