Madhya Pradesh Bans Liquor Shops in 17 Holy Towns: Full List & Details

Madhya Pradesh Bans Liquor Shops in 17 Holy Towns: To implement prohibition in a phased manner, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to ban liquor sales in 17 religious cities across the state. The announcement by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav came during a press conference on Friday when he specified that liquor sales would be banned in one Nagar Nigam, six Nagar Palikas, six Nagar Parishads, and six Gram Panchayats in the first phase.

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The cities where the ban will be enforced include:

• Nagar Nigam: Ujjain
• Nagar Palikas: Maihar, Datia, Panna, Mandla, Multai, Mandsaur
• Nagar Parishads: Orchha, Chitrakoot, Amarkantak, Maheshwar, Omkareshwar, Mandleshwar
• Gram Panchayats: Salkanpur, Bandakpur, Kundalpur, Barmankala, Linga, Barmankhurd

Deputy CM and Finance and Excise Minister Jagdish Dewda on MP's decision to ban alcohol sale at 17 religious sites in the state:

"I extend my congratulations to the honourable CM for this decision. The government is gradually moving towards liquor prohibition. Although there will be economic losses, this is a commendable step."

Liquor and meat are to be banned near religious sites

This liquor ban is consistent with CM Yadav's past announcement to ban all liquor and meat sales and consumption near places of worship. "The process for budget preparation for the current financial year is also almost in the last phase. We will ensure that a provision is made on the consumption of liquor in religious sites in the state," said CM Yadav.

Religious leaders' recommendations

The CM mentioned that the decision came after the recommendation of several seers and religious leaders who sought for the prohibition of liquor. "We are determined to make the religious cities free of liquor and meat, and a decision in this regard will be announced soon. The excise department has been preparing a draft report for the same," he added.

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Preparation for Simhastha Kumbh 2028

The ban on liquor in Ujjain, being a prime religious city, comes a few years ahead of the preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh in 2028, a major Hindu pilgrimage event. The initiative would be aimed at maintaining the purity of the festival and having a spiritual atmosphere.

The initial announcement regarding the ban on consumption of alcohol and meat near religious sites was made in August 2024, which was later approved by the state cabinet in September. IANS had reported that the initiative was expected to cover 21 districts, 68 tehsils, 1,138 villages, and 1,126 ghats including 430 ancient Shiva temples and two.

For the last three decades, liquor prohibition has seen discussions in Madhya Pradesh. In 2004, the then Chief Minister Uma Bharti had announced a liquor ban in Amarkantak and Maheshwar, declaring them as pilgrimage cities. Successor Shivraj Singh Chouhan expanded this ban to more religious places. Discussions continued under various administrations about prohibiting liquor.

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