In a circular issued today, the State Government cleared 100 lakh litres of alcohol for export in other states as well as other countries. The decision was taken following a judgement of the Bombay High Court in the Ruiya and Ruiya V/s Commissioner of State Excise and others.

Besides the directive, a major factor that made the decision imperative, a huge stock of alcohol that was piling up in the sugar factories even before the onset of the forthcoming crushing season and bright crop prospects had thrown up problems for the sugar factories. In this background the government had a little choice to lift the ban, which was imposed for political reasons, observers say.