34 CCTV cameras to monitor liquor flow in Pune

PUNE: The excise department has installed closed circuit television cameras in close to 34 of the district's liquor manufacturing and wholesale units to keep vigil on the sale of illicit liquor during the election.
Superintendent of the department, AB Chaskar, told TOI that as per the recent election commission guidelines, all liquor manufacture and wholesale units should be under CCTV surveillance 24/7.
"We have installed CCTVs at all the spots, including the seven manufacturing units in the district as well as the 27 Indian Made Foreign Liquor and country liquor units," said Chaskar.
The department is monitoring the daily liquor sales of retail outlets, to check any sudden increase or decrease in liquor sales. The monitoring began from September 12. "We have to submit our reasons behind the rise or fall of sales at outlets to the election commission. We are also keeping a close vigil in Pune district to detect activities involving smuggling of liquor from outside or manufacture or sale of illicit liquor," said Chaskar.
The excise department has formed 12 squads in the district-each squad having two inspectors-to check smuggling and illicit liquor manufacture and sale during this period. Also, night patrolling is being undertaken at suspicious spots.
From September 12 to 30, the excise department registered 258 cases of transportation, manufacture and possession of illicit liquor, of which 147 were claimed and 111 remained unclaimed. Around 26 vehicles were seized during this period, while the seizures included material worth Rs 44.38 lakh.