Emulate Kerala to clamp prohibition in phased manner: CPI

PUDUCHERRY: CPI has demanded that the Puducherry government emulate Kerala government's policy to implement prohibition in a phased manner in the Union Territory.

The party's local unit secretary R Viswanathan said he had written to Chief Minister N Rangasamy, bringing to his notice the need to promulgate prohibition in Puducherry, though the Union Territory had been a wet area for decades.

Questioning the increase in number of licences granted to retail outlets selling liquor, arrack and toddy here, he said the government should not consider the revenue aspect alone.

The health of the people, particularly the poor and the youth should gain precedence over any other thing he said.

He alleged that there are shops selling adulterated and sub standard arrack and other types of brew posing a serious threat to health of the people. "Hence a need has arisen to bring in prohibition in a phased manner", he said and suggested that the policy adopted in Kerala be emulated.

There should be restrictions in working hours of liquor shops, wider publicity highlighting serious implications of liquor consumption and reduction in number of shops in a phased manner, he said.