Excise Department opens control rooms

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to check the surge of production and sale of illicit liquor in the district during Onam season, the Excise Department has opened 24-hour control rooms in various parts of the district. The control rooms were opened following a directive of District Collector P M Francis.The Collector said that people can tip-off officials about any activity related to illicit liquor by making calls to the control rooms. Joint raids involving Revenue, Forest, Excise and Police departments will be carried out in this connection. Security at inter-state border check posts and coastal areas will be beefed up by posting additional personnel of Police, Coast Guard, Marine Enforcement and Excise to prevent the smuggling of illicit liquor through the check posts and coasts.The Collector, in a statement released here on Sunday, also said that more steps will be taken to check the sale of intoxicants at shops near schools and also the unbridled sale of alcohol through State Beverages Corporation’s outlets.Vigorous campaigns will also be organised in association with government departments and non-governmental organisations to spread the message against substance abuse.The phone numbers of control rooms opened in different Excise Circles in the district are as follows:Neyyattinkara - 0471-2222380Thiruvananthapuram - 0471-2368447Nedumangad - 0472-2802227Attingal - 0470-2622386Thiruvananthapuram Excise Division Office - 0471-2473149Collectorate Control Room - 0471-2730045 and 2730067Collectorate Control Room toll-free number - 1077