Liquor shops to install CCTV cameras in Odisha

BERHAMPUR (ODISHA): In the wake of upcoming elections, Ganjam district administration in Odisha has ordered all liquor shops, bars and bhatis (country-made liquor-manufacturing units) to install closed circuit television ( CCTV) cameras in next two to three days.

The measure has been taken to ensure trouble-free assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the district on April 10, administration sources said today.

Activities of anti-socials can be recorded and the footages would help police detect suspects in case of any crime, said police.

A senior excise officer said around 75 per cent liquor shops have already installed CCTV cameras in their units.

The district administration had ordered closure of transit houses, adjoining liquor off-shops during elections to Berhampur Municipal Corporation. The houses, used for boozing, will remain shut.

"Excise officials have been asked to crack down on bootleggers in the run-up to twin elections," said collector (Ganjam) Prem Chandra Chaudhary.

A meeting of administration and excise officials was held here on Saturday to review the situation. Sub-collector (Berhampur) B K Das presided. The excise officer added that striking force units have been constituted to maintain strict vigil on illicit liquor trade.

"They would conduct raids and take stringent action against the guilty," he added. The district has around 40 bhatis, 52 foreign liquor shops, nine on-hotel bars and three bottling plants, including Aska Cooperative Sugar Industry Limited.