Spurious Liquor Claimed 231 Lives In Odisha Since 1992: Minister Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar: At least 231 people have died following consumption of spurious liquor in Odisha, the state Assembly was informed on Saturday.

Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan shared this information while answering a question. Spurious liquor has claimed the lived of 231 people since 1992 in the state, he said.

The highest number of 134 deaths due to spurious liquor took place in Cuttack in 1992, while 41 people died after consuming hooch in 2012 at Tukulipada on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the Minister said.

Similarly, 20 people died in Puri in 2001, while 19 deaths due to spurious liquor reportedly took place in Ganjam in 2006, he said, adding that spurious liquor claimed the lives of seven persons at Tihidi in Bhadrak in 2019.

The Minister further informed that there are 433 country liquor manufacturing units in rural areas of the state, while license have been issued to 490 such units for pouch liquor production.

Total revenue of Rs 227 crore has been earned from country liquor during the current financial year, while 23 crore litres of ‘Mahuli’ was produced during 2023-24 in the state, he added.