Odisha to Completely Ban Dance Bars, Stop Opening of Liquor Shops Near Educational Institutes, Temples

Bhubaneswar: While replying an adjournment motion related to the hooch tragedy in Ganjam district in the Odisha Assembly, Odisha Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated that all dance bars in the state will be closed down. Added to it, no liquor shops will be allowed to operate near schools, colleges and temples.

Replying to an adjournment motion over the Chikiti hooch tragedy, Harichandan informed that a new excise policy will be brought in taking into account ‘Odia Asmita’.

“Dance bars will be shut in Odisha. Illegal liquor shops being run on government properties will be bulldozed. The network of illicit liquor trade will also be completely destroyed within a year,” he said.

According to him, no liquor shops will be allowed near religious institutions, schools, colleges and other educational institutions.

The ban on dance bars is expected to be implemented state-wide. The government will issue formal notification and guidelines for enforcement in near future.