Liquor seizures show a thriving bootlegging business

ahmedabad: there is no looking back for those into the bootlegging business in this dry state. the illicit liquor market in the state is registering a phenomenal growth due to increase in liquor consumption across the cross-section of the society, sources in the police department said. both the prohibition and police departments made more than 12,000 arrests under the prohibition act and seized illicit liquor worth rs 12 crore in 1997, after they split in the same year.the total seizures made by both the departments by august-end in 2001 stood at rs 35 crore indicating a whopping growth of the illicit liquor market though the two departments are keen to project these figures as a manifestation of effective policing. both the departments are expecting huge seizures in the coming days on account of navratri, diwali and new year celebrations and the total amount of the seizure is likely to go up to rs 50 crore in 2001, as against a figure of rs 33 crore in 2000. but the total seizures are just the tip of the iceberg as officials believe that both the departments collectively could only seize around 20 per cent of illicit liquor flowing into the state from the various illegal channels. but even this is an inflated estimate, and independent observers say that only about 5 to 10 per cent of liquor which finds its way into the state is actually detected. though the police and prohibition departments are busy patting their backs for increasing the amount of seizures every year, it also indicate the size of the illicit liquor business which has also grown in a hydra-headed fashion. "inspite of the fact that so many major bootleggers have been put behind bars but their cronies continue to operate and expand the business," rajan priyadarshi, joint commissioner, prohibition department told tnn. normally a bootlegger operates with a battery of 20 to 25 flunkeys who help him out in extending his business to every nook and corner of his operational area. once a bootlegger gets arrested or faces externment under pasa due to increase in number of cases piling up against him, the sub-ordinates take over the business. though both the departments have stepped up their efforts to nip the trade in the bud, by stepping up checks and raids, the bootlegging business has never shown a negative growth. moreover, the data compiled by both the departments also indicate an increase in the number of cases registered, number of people involved and increase in number of vehicles used for retailing the illicit liquor. on the other hand, liquor consumption was never shunned by the society as such, though the government adopted the prohibition policy way back in 1960. "we are doing our bit of work with complete diligence though we have constantly demanded an increase in funds allocated to us for the rehabilitation of the alcohol addicts," says natwarlal parmar, president of the nashabandhi mandal, a voluntary organisation, working for the deaddiction and rehabilitation of addicts. the mandal, which runs six deaddiction and counselling centres all over the state, was allocated a grant of rs 11 lakh in 1960 which remains unchanged even after 40 years. every time a file was put forward for sanction, the finance department puts its foot down showing non-availability of funds for a cause which was part of state's policy. "five additional districts have been given to us to provide counselling and rehabilitation, while our staff works on very low wages," adds parmar.