05 June,2026 06:45 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Congress leader Sachin Sawant said the incident reflected broader administrative and systemic failures. File Pic
Congress leader Sachin Sawant on Friday alleged that the recent liquor tragedy in Pune, which claimed 22 lives, has exposed the Maharashtra government's failure to implement recommendations made after the 2015 Malvani hooch tragedy in Mumbai, reported the PTI.
Sawant said the incident reflected broader administrative and systemic failures rather than being merely a localised lapse.
Addressing reporters in Mumbai, the Congress national secretary questioned what action had been taken on the recommendations submitted by a committee formed after the Malvani tragedy, in which 106 people lost their lives.
He said the state government should disclose the status of those recommendations and explain whether they had been effectively implemented.
According to the PTI, Sawant alleged that the Pune tragedy was a result of government negligence and inadequate enforcement.
While action has reportedly been taken against 26 personnel from the police, excise and other departments, he argued that disciplinary measures alone do not address the underlying causes of such incidents.
According to him, the recurring nature of hooch-related tragedies points to failures across multiple government departments, the news agency reported.
The Congress leader said the committee formed after the Malvani incident had recommended stricter controls on the production and transportation of methanol, closer coordination between police and excise authorities, and stronger action against organised criminal networks involved in the illicit liquor trade.
He noted that the Home Department had issued directions in February 2022 for the implementation of these recommendations, as per the PTI.
Sawant also questioned whether hospitals treating victims of the Pune tragedy were adequately equipped to deal with cases of methanol poisoning.
He pointed out that the committee had recommended standard operating procedures, stockpiling of antidotes and specialised training for doctors and healthcare workers to respond to such emergencies.
Referring to recent raids on methanol stockpiles and illegal distilleries in areas such as Bhiwandi, Sawant claimed that enforcement agencies tend to act only after major incidents occur.
He asked whether the Pune tragedy could have been prevented if the recommendations made after the Malvani incident had been fully implemented.
Sawant demanded that the Maharashtra government make public a detailed status report on the implementation of every recommendation made by the Malvani committee.
He also sought an explanation for delays in carrying out pending measures aimed at preventing the manufacture and sale of illicit liquor, reported the PTI.
The Congress leader said the Pune tragedy should serve as a reminder of the need for stronger enforcement and greater accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.
(with PTI inputs)
