Maharashtra government declares Chandrapur as dry district

• Maharashtra Government has declared mineral rich Chandrapur district (in Vidarbha region) as dry district.

• Thus imposing ban on the sale, purchase, production and consumption of liquor in the district.

• In this regard, state government has cancelled all alcohol permits in Chandrapur district and henceforth will be shifted to other districts.

• Chandrapur district is third district in state to be declared dry district. The demand for banning liquor in Chandrapur was made in late 2010, following which a committee was set up by state government. Thus, this decision was taken that in the interest of health of the people of Chandrapur, liquor consumption must be prohibited.

• Earlier, Wardha and Gadchiroli districts from same region were declared dry districts.

• Wardha was declared dry district as it is closely linked to Mahatma Gandhi with his ashram situated in Sevagram.

• While, in the case of Gadchiroli the decision to declare it as a dry district was taken in 1992 owing to a public outcry to ban alcohol in view of growing Naxal movement.