Rourkela: With the Sundargarh Lok Sabha constituency and the Assembly segments in it going to polls Monday, the district administration has closed down all liquor shops in this town. The restrictions were imposed Saturday from 4.00 pm onwards and the shops will again open May 21. Officials said that as a precautionary measure, 28 IMFL liquor shops, 15 bars and storehouses of liquor have been closed.
Excise officials informed Sunday that they have personally visited the shops, bars and pubs and have sealed those. “We have conducted a checking of stock in each shop before sealing. We will check again May 21, when the shops will reopen. If there is something amiss, then we will take legal steps,” informed an Excise official. Country liquor shops in this town have also been shut. Two special observers have been appointed to keep watch and prevent the selling of liquor till May 21. The shops did brisk business before they were shut. Tipplers stored liquor in sufficient quantities so that they wouldn’t fill the pinch till May 21. Shop owners reported long queues in front of their shops all through the day Saturday. “Usually the demand for beer skyrockets in summer. However, this time there were demands for all varieties of liquor,” said a shop owner. He added that he had procured sufficient stock as he knew that shops would be closed down.