A CCTV camera installed at a liquor shop in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, March 10: Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are being installed at liquor shops here to keep a tab on criminal activities and possible use of liquor by candidates to influence voters during elections.

“We have identified 103 liquor shops, including 72 in Ganjam excise district and 31 in Berhampur excise district, where we will install CCTV cameras. The process is on,” said Uttam Meher, excise superintendent, Ganjam.

The excise officials have swung into action after district collector Prem Chandra Chowdhury, who is also the district’s electoral officer, directed the department in this regard.

The cameras have already been installed at all the 72 liquor shops, including 29 country liquor shops, 37 foreign liquor shops and six licensed bars, in Ganjam.

Similarly, the cameras have already been installed at 29 shops, including 11 country liquor shops, 15 foreign liquor shops and three licensed bars, in Berhampur excise district.

Cameras have also been installed at the Aska Distilleries that produces country liquor and the foreign liquor bottling plant at Gopalpur.

“We are keeping a strict vigil on the liquor shops and the sale of liquor. We are submitting our reports to the district collector every day,” said the excise superintendent of Ganjam.

The Election Commission has asked liquor shops not to sale liquor this month exceeding the sale records of the previous month.

“If any shop exceeds previous month’s sale records in selling liquor this month, we will seal it. We hope to be able to detect criminals, who visit liquor shops through CCTV footage. The system will also help us know who has purchased how many amount of liquor,” he said.

Pramod Jena, who owns a foreign liquor shop on Aska Road, had to install as many as 10 CCTV cameras at his shop by spending his money from his pocket. He said the liquor shop owners were feeling a tad harassed by the administration’s directive.

He suggested that the government should provide them with the CCTV cameras. “We have to buy the costly CCTV cameras ourselves, so that the government can monitor daily sale of liquor. This is ridiculous,” he said.

Prafulla Jagannath Padhi, an advocate, said there were apprehensions that some candidates might influence a group of voters by providing them liquors to gain votes.

“Installation of CCTV cameras in the liquor shops is a welcome step. But, it must be implemented properly and carefully,” he said.