Saturday, March 29, 2025
Following a tragic spurious liquor incident in Amritsar, the Punjab government has called on the Central Government to take swift action. At least 23 people died in the Majitha area after consuming toxic liquor. This incident has raised serious concerns about the misuse of methanol.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has written to the Centre. In his letter, he urged immediate regulation of methanol, an industrial chemical often misused to produce fake liquor. According to him, methanol has become a weapon in the hands of criminals.
Furthermore, Cheema stressed that this is not just a Punjab issue. In fact, it affects the entire country. Spurious liquor, made using methanol, has led to many deaths across India.
The letter urges the Centre to amend the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. Specifically, Punjab seeks stricter laws around the production, storage, sale, and transport of methanol. Moreover, the state wants tighter monitoring of industrial methanol to prevent its illegal use.
Without proper oversight, Cheema warned, methanol will continue to pose a serious threat to public safety. Therefore, strong national laws are essential.
This is not the first such incident. However, the scale of the recent tragedy has pushed the Punjab government to act firmly. By urging the Centre to step in, Punjab hopes to prevent future deaths caused by toxic liquor.
In conclusion, stricter methanol regulation could save lives. The Punjab government is now waiting for the Centre’s response.
