Sustained campaign of ex-chief minister Uma Bharti against rampant sale of liquor has worked with the Madhya Pradesh government deciding to close down all the ‘ahaatas’ (drinking space linked to liquor shops) and shop bars in the state.
The Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet gave nod to a proposal for changes in liquor policy at a meeting held late on Sunday evening. As per new norms, liquor shops will be allowed a minimum 100 metres away from religious and educational establishments, instead of 50 metres distance earlier, home minister and government spokesman Narottam Mishra said after the meeting.
He added that the state government has taken historic decisions to discourage liquor consumption in the state. Mishra also said that the provisions against drunken driving have been made more stringent.
According to sources, the decisions mean that 2580 ‘ahaatas’ and 31 shop bars running currently in the state will close down. The liquor contracts will be renewed with a 3-10 per cent hike in rates, driving licenses of those involved in drunken driving will be suspended and the duration of suspension will increase with second and third felonies, sources said. According to the new policy, the government will consider closure of liquor shops if there are protests with concrete reasons in any area. Also, the budget for awareness campaigns against alcoholism and addiction will be increased, the policy says.
The major decisions could be called a win for Uma Bharti’s sustained campaign against the government of her own party. Bharti has been demanding closure of ahaatas and shops near religious and educational institutions for a long time. She took to protests in different forms like throwing stone and cow dung at liquor shops, staging dharnas and tying cattle in front of the shops apart from writing repeatedly to the CM Chouhan, BJP state president Vishnu Dutt Sharma and also writing to BJP national president J.P. Nadda. She repeatedly expressed confidence that the BJP government in state will take considered decisions in this respect and that she had full faith in promises made by Chouhan and Sharma.
Relief amounts
In other decisions, the state cabinet approved the proposal to increase the compensation and relief amounts given out for injuries, loss of cattle, damage to houses, land, boats and artisans affected by natural disasters. Suitable changes in this regard have been made in the revenue book circulation (RBC) 6-4.
The state government also decided to provide land ownership to poor people residing on government lands with a cutoff date of December 31, 2020 instead of December 31, 2014, Mishra said . This will give ownership rights on lands to a significant number of poor people and is likely to work in favour of ruling party in the election year.
The cabinet approved an additional grant of Rs 4160 crores to the state public works department for repair and reconstruction of 8171 kms of road in the state.
A new tehsil (Gwalior rural) will be created in Gwalior district and eight posts have been created for the purpose. Also, 1589 posts are being created for the running of Satna medical college and affiliated hospital, Mishra said.
