TRACKING DEVICE A MUST FOR VEHICLES CARRYING SPIRIT

CHANDIGARH:TO break the nexus between manufacturers and transporters that led to the recent hooch tragedy, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered stringent measures, including mandatory GPS linkage, to check in-transport pilferage of ethanol, spirits and other products by unscrupulous elements. From September 5, no vehicle will be allowed to transport such products without tamperproof sealing and GPS enabling, as per the directives issued on Wednesday by excise commissioner Rajat Agarwal on the CM’S orders.

The GPS coordinates of the vehicle will need to be preserved by the unit for a period of not less than 15 days from the date of completion of delivery of a consignment, according to the directives. Also, in no case will the transport vehicle be allowed to stop en route its destination within Punjab, except in case of breakdown. The manufacturing unit will have to inform yhis to the excise officer in-charge within 15 minutes .

Taran district alone, including 12 in Pandoori Gola. The police had arrested around 12 villagers after deaths were reported.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) district president Virsa Singh Valtoha said, “The government is not serious even after 123 deaths. Those who were still selling illicit liquor in the village must have got patronage of the ruling party’s leaders. Those who were arrested earlier from the village were not thoroughly interrogated by the police, due to which two more people have died. The police and the government are solely responsible for this.”