Lucknow, July 21 -- The Uttar Pradesh excise and prohibition minister (independent charge) Nitin Agarwal on Tuesday directed senior officials to maintain zero tolerance towards illegal liquor trade ahead of the upcoming festive season. Officials have been asked for effective enforcement in districts bordering other states, they have also been asked for heightened alertness in sensitive areas of Purvanchal

In a high-level review meeting held at the Sugarcane Institute Auditorium in Dalibagh, Lucknow, the minister instructed officers to ensure that no untoward incident involving loss of life due to spurious or illicit liquor occurs during the festivals. He emphasized seamless coordination with district administration and police, and direct...