Excise Enforcement / Odisha to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Liquor, Narcotics During Festive Season

Bhubaneswar, Oct 7: The Odisha Excise Department will launch a special statewide enforcement drive from October 10 to 31 to curb the illegal trade of liquor, narcotics and other intoxicating substances, officials said on Wednesday.

The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by Excise, Law and Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan with district excise superintendents through a virtual platform on Wednesday.

ଆଜି ଭିଡିଓ କନ୍‌ଫରେନ୍ସିଂ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଅବକାରୀ ବିଭାଗର ଏକ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସମୀକ୍ଷା ବୈଠକ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି। ଆଗାମୀ ପାର୍ବଣ ଋତୁକୁ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ରଖି ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ବେଆଇନ ମାଦକ ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟ ଓ ନିଶା କାରବାରକୁ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରୋକିବା ପାଇଁ ଆସନ୍ତା ଅକ୍ଟୋବର ୧୦ ରୁ ୩୧ ତାରିଖ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବ୍ୟାପକ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଚଢ଼ାଉ ଅଭିଯାନ (Special Enforcement Drive) ଚଲାଇବାକୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଅବକାରୀ ଅଧୀକ୍ଷକମାନଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ଦିଆଗଲା । ନିଶାମୁକ୍ତ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଗଠନ ପାଇଁ ଆମ ସରକାର 'ଶୂନ୍ୟ ସହନଶୀଳତା' (Zero Tolerance) ନୀତି ଆପଣେଇଛନ୍ତି। ଏହି ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଅଭିଯାନ ସମୟରେ ଗୁଇନ୍ଦା ତଥ୍ୟ ଆଧାରରେ ବେଆଇନ ମଦ, ହେରୋଇନ୍, କାଶ ସିରପ୍‌ ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟାନ୍ୟ ନିଶାଦ୍ରବ୍ୟର କାରବାର ଉପରେ କଠୋର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ସହ ଅଭ୍ୟାସଗତ ଅପରାଧୀଙ୍କ ବିରୋଧରେ ଅଦାଲତରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ଦଣ୍ଡବିଧାନ ପାଇଁ ମଜବୁତ ପ୍ରମାଣ ସଂଗ୍ରହ କରିବାକୁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦିଆଗଲା । ଚଳିତ ବର୍ଷ MGERରେ ୯୪% ସଫଳତା ପାଇଁ ବିଭାଗର ସମସ୍ତ ଅଧିକାରୀଙ୍କୁ ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ ଜଣାଇଲି ଏବଂ ଆଗାମୀ ଦିନରେ ଅଧିକ ନିଷ୍ଠା ଓ ଦକ୍ଷତାର ସହ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପାଦନ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦେଲି। ଏହି ବୈଠକରେ ଅବକାରୀ ବିଭାଗ କମିଶନର ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ପି. ଅନ୍ଵେଷା ରେଡ୍ଡୀ, ଅତିରିକ୍ତ କମିଶନର ରୁଦ୍ର ନାରାୟଣ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ସମେତ ସମସ୍ତ ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ଅବକାରୀ ଅଧିକ୍ଷକ, ଜୋନାଲ ଅଧିକାରୀ ଓ ବିଭାଗର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ଅଧିକାରୀ ମାନେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ଥିଲେ I @PMOIndia @CMO_Odisha @narendramodi @MohanMOdisha @exciseodisha @BJP4India @BJP4Odisha #OdishaExcise #EnforcementDrive #ReviewMeeting #ExciseDepartment #OdishaGovernance #ZeroTolerance #DigitalGovernance #Odisha

— Prithiviraj Harichandan (@PrithivirajBJP) October 7, 2026

The Minister directed officials to strengthen enforcement measures and intensify raids across the State in view of the approaching festive season, when illegal activities are often reported to rise.

Focus on enforcement

Addressing the meeting, Harichandan said illegal intoxicants and narcotic substances continue to cause loss of lives and livelihoods while adversely affecting the future of the younger generation. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts between the Excise Department and the public to support the vision of a drug-free India.

The minister said the State government remains committed to eliminating illegal liquor and drug networks and called for large-scale enforcement operations similar to those undertaken over the past two years.

Officials were instructed to utilise intelligence-based inputs and seek assistance from the police and district administration wherever necessary to ensure effective action against offenders.

Zero-tolerance policy

Harichandan urged officials not to succumb to any form of pressure while carrying out raids and reiterated the government's policy of zero tolerance towards habitual offenders involved in illegal liquor and narcotics trade.

He also emphasised the need for collecting strong evidence to facilitate stricter punishment for accused persons in courts and make the prosecution process more effective.

Performance review

During the meeting, Excise Commissioner P. Anvesha Reddy presented district-wise data on raids, seizures, vehicle confiscations and arrests through a PowerPoint presentation. She also briefed the minister on various initiatives being implemented by the department.

Harichandan congratulated officials for achieving 95 per cent of the targeted MGER for the current year and encouraged them to maintain the momentum during the upcoming enforcement drive.

Additional Excise Commissioner Rudra Narayan Mohanty, district excise superintendents, zonal officers and other senior officials attended the review meeting.

The special campaign is expected to focus on vulnerable areas across the State as authorities seek to crack down on illegal liquor manufacturing, narcotics trafficking and related criminal activities during the festive period.