Patna,(BiharTimes): Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said that those rendered unemployed after the closure of the liquor shops would be offered Sudha Milk counters.

Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of the Janata Dal (United)’s national executive meet in New Delhi on Sunday he said talks are on with the Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation Limited (Comfed). Thus the liquor counters would now sell milk, ‘lassi’, curd and sweets.

He said that he has other plans to rehabilitate these people but insisted that he is committed to setting up de-addiction centres at district hospitals in Bihar, appointment of psychiatrists wherever required and involvement of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) to spread social awareness on the need for severely restricting alcohol consumption.

According to him alcohol prohibition to the extent of 90 percent will take place by April 1 next as there would be complete prohibition on country liquor by then. Not only that there would be restrictions on the sale of foreign and Indian Made Foreign Liquor brands, which can be sold only in municipal corporation towns and municipality towns by Bihar State Beverage Corporation Ltd from the first phase itself.

He said the annual loss of about Rs 4,000 crore of revenue would not deter his government from doing what was required to curb alcohol consumption.