Maintaining sanctity of holy shrines, Uttarakhand bans alcohol sale at eight places including Char Dham

Dehradun, November 29: Maintaining the sanctity of the holy shrines, the Uttarakhand government has banned the sale of alcohol in 8 religious areas including Char Dham on Thursday. A government order issued through a notification stated that no liquor shop will be allowed within limits of 1.6 km municipal limits of the religious places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Nanakmatta, Puran Kaliyar, Hemkund Sahib, Reetha Sahib, and Purnagiri. Haridwar and Rishikesh are already dry areas of the state.

 

Madan Kaushik, state cabinet minister and spokesperson of the government said, "The decision is taken to maintain the sanctity of the religious shrines and towns. Our government is committed to the welfare and well being of the people of the state."

The decision has been taken in the wake of Uttarakhand High court's direction in August this year.

Uttarakhand high court, in August this year, directed the state government to frame policy within the period of six months for alcohol ban in the hill state under the ambit of the law.

The court also directed the state government to implement rules which call for a ban on the sale of alcohol to those under 21 years of age.