The Manipur Cabinet has decided to partially lift the ban on the consumption of liquor in the state.

Tribal Affairs and Hills (TA&H) minister, Letpao Haokip said that the partial lifting of the prohibition would generate at least Rs. 600 crore of annual revenue.

A Cabinet meeting which was convened on September 20, as a part of regulating the provision of Manipur Liquor Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2002.  It was decided to lift the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 from certain areas to legalize the sale of liquor in those areas.

Letpao Haokip said the state cabinet thoroughly discussed regulating the 'dry state' status by lifting the liquor prohibition legislation from certain areas and accordingly arrived at a decision to lift the prohibition from certain areas.

Sources have also said that there is no restriction on sale and purchase of liquor in certain areas like army cantonments and battalions of central forces despite Sikkim being a 'dry state'.

However, the transporting of liquor from one place to another would require a permit.

The decision of lifting the ban on liquor was also triggered by the increase in the number of liver and kidney diseases among a section of the population due to consumption of illicit liquor.

Manipur government banned the sale, brewing and consumption of liquor in 1991, though it allowed Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to brew liquor for traditional purposes.

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