Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday reviewed the progress in accomplishment of his seven resolves, fire incidents and prohibition in Patna division and directed senior officials to strictly implement the ban on liquor.

The prohibition reportedly has led to a drastic drop in incidents of crime as well as road accidents, including deaths in them.

Patna division comprises six districts - Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Buxar and Bhabhua - stretching from Mokama in the east to Uttar Pradesh border in the west.

Divisional commissioner Anand Kishor tabled crime-related data at the review meet, which revealed that the number of cognisable crime incidents in the division from April 1 to April 23 this year was 2,328 in comparison to 3,178 in the corresponding period last year. This showed a drop of around 27 per cent in cognisable crimes.

During the meeting, the officials told Nitish that the number of road accidents in the districts of Patna division has decreased, resulting in a drop in accident-related deaths. Tension and fights erupting during public and religious processions also dipped.

Partial prohibition banning country liquor was imposed in Bihar from April 1 this year and Nitish turned it into total prohibition on April 5 after seeing the positive response to partial ban. Sale and consumption of country as well as foreign liquor stands banned in the state.

"The chief minister took stock of the raids, arrests and prosecution while enforcing prohibition, the position of barriers and check-posts to detect any illegal movement of liquor and running of de-addiction centres in Patna division. He ordered enforcement of prohibition with full strictness and asked the officials to ensure patrolling on bordering areas with neighbouring states as it has led to drop in crimes and road accidents," said a senior official present at the meeting.

Nitish also reviewed the fire incidents this summer in the division and asked the disaster management department officials to issue an advisory to people not to light any fire from 9am to 6pm, not burn crop remnants in agriculture fields after harvest and to ensure that prayers and havans are performed before 9am.

"The chief minister expressed worry at drop in groundwater level in the districts of Patna division over the past two years and asked all related departments to solve the problem," said the senior government official said.