From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Mar 15: All the distilleries in Karnataka have besn directed by the State Government to strictly adhere to the mode code of conduct during the ensuing State Assembly elections.

Excise Minister M P Renukacharaya, who issued this strict direction, has warned that the licenses of all the erring distilleries, which have been found violating the model code of conduct, will be cancelled if they were found to have produced excess liquor than their permitted quota.

Karnataka has a  total of 94 distilleries, including 23 wineries.

The minister said the state government has already posted an inspector from the Excise Department to each distillery to monitor manufacture of liquor.

All the Units have to manufacture liquor as per the indent given by the Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited.

The inspector would check each outgoing consignment and report to higher officials if there was any violation, the minister said.

Renukacharya, who reviewed the performance of the department, said inspectors would monitor production, supply and distribution of liquor by distilleries.

“We will keep a regular watch. Action will be taken against units report unusual production of liquor after announcement of dates for elections,” the minister said.

Excise Commissioners of Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been requested to monitor transportation of liquor across the border during the poll period.

He said the revenue from sale of liquor would touch Rs 11,000 crore in 2012-13 against the target of Rs 11,200 crore.

Drought in several taluks, limited mining activity and enforcement of poll code during elections to urban local bodies affected the liquor sale.

However, officials have been instructed to achieve the target in the current fiscal year.

The department recorded collection of Rs 9827.89 crore in 2011-12 against the target of Rs 9,200 crore, an increase of Rs 627.89 crore.