Road mishaps in Bihar reduced by 19% due to liquor ban: Nitish

Road accidents have come down by 19 per cent and deaths due to it by 31 per cent in seven months since prohibition came into force in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Thursday.

He also hailed the Supreme Court order prohibiting liquor sale within 500 metre of national and state highways, and said the judgement had silenced critics of prohibition in the state. 

“Road accidents have come down by 19 per cent from April 1 to November 30 in Bihar after liquor ban. Deaths in road accidents have declined by 31 per cent during the period,” Kumar said addressing a ‘Chetna sabha’ here in Rohtas district during the fifth leg of his ‘Nishchay yatra’. 

“The Supreme Court order banning liquor sale within 500 metre of national and state highways has given a suitable reply to those who used to make fun of my government’s decision on prohibition,” he said.

The Chief Minister also claimed prohibition has allowed people to spend on items like milk, sweets, clothes and furniture which is evident in hike in sale of these items.

Building toilets, providing electricity connection, drinking water and sewage connection to every household in the state aims at fulfillment of the ‘seven resolves’, he said.