Assam cabinet approves Assam Excise (amendment) bill

GUWAHATI: Assam cabinet on Tuesday approved the Assam Excise (amendment) bill 2019 which seeks to regulate inflow, transport or possession of molasses. Molasses is used in preparation of illicit liquor

Assam Excise minister Parimal Shuklabaidya said the bill will be placed before the assembly in the next winter session.

“Vide the amendment bill it is sought to amend section 2(h) and section 84 (2) (d) of the Assam Excise Act 2000. By amending section 2 (h) the list of excisable articles is being expanded to include molasses as an excisable article,” the minister said.

In March this year with spurious liquor killing 165 people in two districts of Jorhat and Golaghat in Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had ordered ban on molasses in the state.

Molasses is an important component in making "sulai" an intoxicating drink widely consumed in the tea garden areas of Assam.