Restriction on liquor might be lifted to attract tourist: Biren

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh, who also holds tourism informed on the Assembly floor that in order to attract tourist in the state, the state is trying to lift the restriction of liquor first in some hotel area and urged the society to support the government so as to boost the state’s economy.

Biren was responding the motion for disapproval of policy cut motion raised by opposition MLA Th. Lokeshwor Singh in the demand of Tourism which was moved by N. Biren Singh who is also the leader of the House, in the ongoing second session of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Lokeshwor raised the motion for disapproval of policy cut on account of “Lack of proper policy to protect places of tourist interest; Need of proper policy to improve tourism and Lack of proper policy to develop hotels”.

Biren informed that Manipur is a place that has much potential to attract tourist including foreign tourist. By taking the advantage of the abundantly available of natural scenic beauty, the Manipur government needs to get its opportunity, he added.

As a part of the 100 days programme taken up by the present BJP 2.0 government of Manipur, formation of the state tourism policy has been completed. In the present scenario most of the tourists wanted to have some free space including spending their leisure time with a beer,” he added.

To promote and increase state’s economy, the government will try to start exporting of local brews in support with big liquor companies outside the state, Biren said.

He said the local brews will be not for sales in Manipur but only for export.

Biren informed that under “The Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991” there is a provision to lift the restriction in some areas. And if the liquor prohibition is lifted from the state then a sum of Rs 600-700 crores could be added in state’s economy.

Biren also informed the House earlier that if lifting on prohibition of liquor could harm to the society in mass then the government will give priority to save the society.

Meanwhile, some civil society organisations had been cautioning that government must not lift restriction on liquors as it could bring a huge impact to the society especially to the youths. Nupi Samaj one of  women organisations expressed earlier to media that the state government should kill all their members before the restriction on ban of liquor is lifted. The women body also warned the government that if necessary the movement of “Nisa Bandh”  will be launched.