BHUBANESWAR, 9 JULY: In view of the drugs-hooch mix tragedy early this year in the State, the Government on Monday took a tough stand on preparation and sale of drugs having high alcohol components and urged the Centre to ban such drugs.
"It has been decided that the Central Government will be requested to prohibit drugs with high percentage of alcohol," said Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik after a high-level coordination meeting on checking hooch tragedy and sale of contaminated drugs.
Meanwhile, the Drugs Controller has banned the production of such contaminated drugs in the State. Eight pharmaceutical companies manufacturing drugs with high alcohol content have been banned from production and sale of these drugs.
However, Patnaik said it was a matter of grave concern that such drugs were coming from other States as their production and transportation had not been banned by the Centre. Taking a serious view of the situation, decision has been taken to have strict surveillance on incoming of these products.
It was also decided that Multi-Disciplinary Squads involving the officers of excise, police, drug control and Additional District Magistrate will be constituted at the district level under the chairmanship of Collector to control purchase and sale of alcoholic drugs, Patnaik said.
He said the Collectors and SPs were asked to held coordination meetings regularly at the district level for prevention of this social menace that arise out of the consumption of such highly contaminated drugs.
Official sources said it was also decided that proper mechanism will be developed for sharing of intelligence between the drugs administration and the Excise Department. Patnaik has directed the Drugs Controller to have meticulous antecedent verification before granting of drug licenses. The drugs control department has been asked to conduct surprise raids and draw more samples from vulnerable areas.
The Excise Commissioner has been asked to control production, import and sale of methyl alcohol and de-natured spirit more vigilantly. Patnaik also advised to ensure computerisation of the whole process — from filing of application to granting of license, production and sale. He advised both the Health and the Excise Departments to intensify public awareness against contaminated drugs and spurious liquor as well.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Home Secretary, Health Secretary and Excise Commissioner.
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