Dimapur, July 3 (MExN): Since the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act was introduced in 1989, the revenue earnings of the Excise department have been decreasing drastically. The biggest was during 1987-88 (Rs. 584. 37 lakhs) yet till January 2010 it was still a colossal Rs. 260.41 lakhs considering that the ban remains.
The figures show drastic jump in the decrease since the years following the prohibition: 1987-88 (Rs. 584. 37 lakhs), 1988-89 (Rs. 50.90 lakhs), 1989-90 (Rs. 110.09 lakhs), 1990-91 (Rs. 82. 32 lakhs), 1991-92 (Rs. 101.15 lakhs), 1992-93 (Rs. 100.36 lakhs), 1993-94 (Rs.98. 35 lakhs), 1994-95 (Rs. 109.39 lakhs), 1995-96 (Rs. 157.00 lakhs), 1996-97 (Rs. 199.00 lakhs), 1997-98 (Rs. 210.70 lakhs), 1998-99 (Rs. 189.63 lakhs), 1999-2000 (Rs. 170.65 lakhs), 2000-01 (Rs. 176. 33 lakhs), 2001-02 (Rs. 182. 58 lakhs), 2002-03 (Rs. 197.94 lakhs), 2003-04 (Rs. 200.60 lakhs), 2004-05 (Rs. 204. 72 lakhs), 2005-06 (195.65 lakhs), 2006-07 (Rs. 213.00 lakhs), 2007-08 (Rs. 280 lakhs), 2008-09 (Rs. 333.08 lakhs), 2009-10 (Rs. 260.41 lakhs).
The state government had convened a consultative meeting on prohibition with civil society organizations in Kohima Friday. Minister for Excise MC Konyak had said no final decision would be taken from the meeting pointing out that it was convened only for consultations. The Nagaland Excise and Prohibition department administers the Nagaland Excise Act 1967 and the Nagaland Liquor Prohibition Act 1989. Following the introduction of Total Prohibition Act 1989, the main function of the department has been shifted from revenue collection to regulating role and enforcement.
Earlier, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council had stated that it will not tolerate any move to either to do away with the Act or relax the use of liquor legally. The Baptist organization said that in the event of revoking the Act, “Christians” in Nagaland are prepared to stand for prohibition through any democratic means based on moral and spiritual authority. Recently, The Morung Express conducted an opinion poll on “ Is it now time for Nagaland government to lift the prohibition Act?” in which 38 % said “Yes,” 51 % “No” and others “ 11 %.”
