Yavatmal: After a court order, Wani police destroyed illegal liquor worth Rs.73 lakh on Friday. The liquor was seized from the mafia operating across the district borders to neighbouring Chandrapur where the government had earlier banned manufacturing, sale and consumption.
The ban had paved the way for the mafia to smuggle liquor from Yavatmal district to Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Wardha (all dry districts). A road roller was hired to smash the entire stock of illegal liquor to pulp. The illegal liquor had piled up since five years.
MP Balu Dhanorkar and state minister Vijay Wadettiwar have been demanding the lifting of the liquor ban. They said the rising sale of illegal liquor is hitting the revenues of the state government.
Various anti-liquor lobbies have challenged the proposal and threatened to intensify their agitation.