Bhubaneswar, March 29: A tragic revelation was made by Odisha’s Excise Minister, Prithviraj Harichandan, in the state assembly on Saturday. According to the Minister, a total of 52 individuals lost their lives due to alcohol consumption during the tenure of the previous government.
This disclosure came in response to a question raised by Manas Kumar Dutta, the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Balasore, who sought clarity on the matter. The Excise Minister further emphasized the significant toll alcohol consumption had on the state's citizens under the previous administration.
Minister Harichandan also addressed concerns regarding liquor establishments near schools and temples in the Balasore district. He clarified that these liquor shops had been permitted in the region under Section 26 of the Government Excise Act, which provides guidelines for the operation of such establishments in specific areas. This clarification aimed to dispel any confusion surrounding the regulatory aspects of liquor shop locations in the district.
