MP to formulate new excise policy

Bhopal, Oct 18 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government will soon formulate new excise policy under which possession of poppy straw without licence would be prohibited from next year.

At present, poppy straw weighing upto one Kg may be kept for personal use and a licence holder can sell upto one Kg.

For production of seeds, farmers are permitted to keep upto 5 Kg of poppy straw from which opium essence has been extracted, but seeds not removed. From next year, the farmers will also be required to have a licence for this purpose, official sources said.

This was decided at a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee chaired by Commercial Tax Minister Babulal Gaur while discussing on the new excise policy.

The meeting also decided that a liquor shop in a village or locality would be closed in public interest if 70 per cent voters or 50 per cent women of that area apply for it.

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