CM sole authority to take decision on liquor ban in Odisha: Damodar Rout

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Nov 28, 2015 at 12:42 PM Updated On : Nov 28, 2015 at 1:25 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Nov 28: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is the only one to have a final say on total prohibition in Odisha, Excise and Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout has said.

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Encouraged by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s recent shocker of declaring Bihar as a dry state, alcohol will be banned in all of Bihar with effect from April 1, 2016. Many NGO’s and social activists have strengthened their call for total prohibition in Odisha.

Cabinet minister has said that the final decision lies with the Chief Minister of declaring the state as dry. He has said that in 1915, Bihar- Odisha Prohibition Bill had been created. The Nitish Kumar government has made some changes in the bill to bring prohibition in the state.

Therefore, whether Odisha wants to go for similar changes and ban alcohol in the state completely depends on the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he said.

Damodar Rout Naveen Patnaik