dry day
Representative photo. Image - Khas Khabar

The Tax, Excise & Narcotics Department of Arunachal Pradesh has declared the polling day (April 11), the days before and after the poll day (April 9, 10, 12), the counting day (May 23) and the days before and after the counting day (May 22, 24) as dry days.

The department has also cut down on business hours of liquor shops by three hours across the State in view of the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

As per the order issued by the Department, the liquor vendors would now start the day at 9 am and shut down by 5 pm. The order will remain in force till the completion of the election process.

The department has also initiated several measures and has set up different mechanisms along with issuing numerous orders to prevent supply of illicit liquor during the election process, according to reports.

In its order, the department has made it compulsory for all the licensed retail liquor outlets to install CCTV cameras in their shop premises.

Further, all sensitive retail outlets and potential distribution points of illicit liquors, would immediately be identified and kept under close vigil by the flying squad, video surveillance team and other mechanisms.

As per the order, the maximum permissible quantity of liquors that an unlicensed individual can carry or transport within the district is six quarter bottles and 12 bottles of beer (of 650 ml).

Further, intensive vigil and checking of vehicles would be carried out by inter-district coordination of the district nodal officers, DLM squads and flying squads with the help of transport department and police personnel to check illegal transportation of illicit liquors.