Raipur Collector and District Magistrate Dr Basavaraju S, for maintaining law and order during the election model code of conduct period in Raipur district, has slashed the operational timing of liquor shops, both country-made and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) outlets by two hours. The order has been made effective from October 10.

As per the order now shops would remain open from 12.00 noon to 9.00 pm. The order states that from October 10, all the liquor outlets, country-made liquor C.S (CC) and all IMFL F.L 1 (CC) opening period would be 12.00 noon and closing time will be 9.00 pm. Earlier, the normal timing of opening of liquor outlets was 11.00 am and closing time was 10.00 pm.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr S. Bharatidasan when contacted said that Collector has the power to decide on the issue considering the law and order situation of district. Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer office has not issued any directive regarding it.

There has been demand from various quarters’ mainly political parties regarding the sale of liquor and raised suspicion over the distribution of liquor. Presently, state government runs the outlet through outsourcing. Even complaints were lodged with CEO office and Election Commission of India directing state government not to sell liquor and impose ban on the sale.

Whenever the issue was being raised, the officials had been stating that it is a commodity and until and unless there is critical violation of election model code of conduct, no action can be initiated. The liquor manufacturing units, production, transportation, sale, stocks and other details are being collected on daily basis after enforcement of MCC as part of monitoring.