State government issues strict instructions to stop the manufacture of illegal and poisonous liquor

Bhopal: Several concrete and strict steps have been taken by the state government to effectively stop the use of methanol and other toxic chemicals in the manufacture of illicit and poisonous liquor and for other purposes. The Home Department has issued instructions to all the Collectors and Superintendents of Police to strictly follow the Poison Act 1919 (Central Law) and the Poison Rules 2014 notified by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Now it will be mandatory to obtain a license from the District Collector for the sale of all types of poisons notified in the rules.

Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Rajoura informed that in the license issued by the District Collector, the place of sale of poisons, maximum quantity of their storage, safety measures, to whom they are being sold, method of storage of toxic substances, the requirement of maintaining the stock register, sales register, labeling of the poison and the measures to be taken at the time of transportation will be mentioned. Compliance with the conditions of the license will be legally mandatory.

The District Collector will be able to issue search warrants for checking the premises. ASI and Naib Tehsildar level officers will be able to check the stock and sale register. There is a provision of imprisonment for one year for not following the Poison Act or the Poison Rule.

It is noteworthy that the use of methanol and other toxic chemicals etc., used for industrial and other purposes, in the manufacture of illicit liquor in the statehad made liquor toxic and caused harm to the public. In Morena, Ujjain and Mandsaur, the quantity of methanol was found in spurious liquor. To prevent recurrence of these incidents, several concrete steps have been taken by the state government.