Country liquor legalised in JH

SHILLONG: The State, for the first time, legalised country made liquor in Jaintia Hills.
This was informed by Excise Minister Zenith Sangma in the Assembly on Friday.
To a supplementary question by Jemino Mawthoh (UDP), the Excise minister said, “The sale of country made liquor has been legalised only in Jaintia Hills.”
He said following the NGT ban on rat-hole coal mining in 2014-15, the excise revenue on liquor was dropped as most of the workers, who were consumers of liquor, left the State leading to a slump in sales of liquor.
To a question, Sangma said the number of licensed liquor shops in the State in the past was 581 that reduced to 296 due to restrictions imposed by the State government and the Supreme Court for setting up of liquor stores.
In 2016-17 up to January, revenue earned was over Rs 127 crore as against the revenue of over Rs 132 crore earned in 2015-16.
The minister said there is a difference of over Rs 5 crore in revenue collection.
Safe drinking water scheme
PHE Minister Prestone Tynsong said the habitations not covered by the Centre for safe drinking water supply will be taken up by State government.
In reply to a question by Donkupar Roy (UDP), Tynsong said the Centre continued to reduce fund allocation for the programme since 2014-15.
He said the target for coverage of habitations with safe drinking water supply during the 12th Plan period was 1,786 and the achievement till February 2017 is 1,616.