Singbel bans liquor sales, will also penalise drunk revellers

GANGTOK, 16 June: The panchayat and public of Singbel, East Sikkim, near Singtam here have decided to put a ban on sale of liquor in the village. In a meeting held today, it was decided that the ban would come into effect after one week, following which any shop found selling liquor will be fined Rs 5,000.

Apart from this, any person found creating nuisance in the village under the influence of alcohol will be fined Rs 1,000, it is informed. These steps are being taken as a move against the effect of alcohol consumption on the society, “mostly amongst the young generation”, informs a press release issued by HL Adhikari of Singbel.

The meeting was conducted at Singbel Milk Cooperative Society Bhawan and was chaired by Singbel Gram Panchayat, Malati Kharka and was organised by the youth of Singbel and attended by panchayats, ex-panchayats, senior citizens and youth.

Other issues discussed during the meeting were panchayat recommendation and police verification of tenants, ensuring the safety of women in the village, ensuring that only locals are allowed to open shops in the village, etc.

The release informs that ‘Singbel Sudhaar Samiti’ has also been formed to implement the decisions taken during the meeting. The committee has Malati Kharka [Gram Panchayat] as president, Harka Bdr Subba as vice president, Hom Prasad Adhikari as secretary, Pavitra Tirwa as treasurer I and Bhuwani Shanker Gautam as treasurer II.

25 other active members including advisors are also in this committee.