DUCCF panel urges Nagaland government to review NLTP Act, says prohibition causing more harm than good

DIMAPUR — The repeal of NLTP Act committee under Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) on Wednesday called on Nagaland government to reassess the 36-year-old Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, arguing that the ban has failed in practice and instead fuelled a rise in illicit liquor and harmful substance use in Dimapur.

Convenor of the committee and DUCCF president Zasivikho Zakiesato said that they have completed about 90% of its consultations with tribal hohos and local stakeholders, with the final round scheduled for January.

He reiterated their stand that ground realities show liquor remains widely available despite the ban, and that prohibition has caused more harm than good.

He pointed out that the annual 10-day partial lifting of the ban during Hornbill Festival demonstrates that regulated sale is workable. “If nearly 95% of stakeholders are pushing for regulation rather than outright prohibition, we can no longer deny reality,” he said.

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According to the committee, Dimapur currently has more than 2,700 active bootleggers, and adulterated liquor circulated through illegal channels has become a major health risk.

Zakiesato said that “hypocrisy” around the ban needs to be addressed, pointing out that churches, which oppose any move to revise the Act, have not objected to the festival-time exemptions.

“If the church is truly against alcohol, it should also raise concerns when festival exemptions are granted,” he said.

DUCCF vice president Tongzuk Pongen said that Nagaland must acknowledge that the NLTP Act has not delivered its intended purpose. He cited the rise of nightclubs, increasing substance use, and deteriorating law-and-order indicators as signs that prohibition has failed.

“We’re not seeking personal gain; we’re protecting future generations,” he said, adding that moving the current unregulated practices into a legal framework would reduce harm and disrupt illegal networks.

The committee argued that although the Act applies statewide, Dimapur is experiencing the sharpest surge in illicit liquor and therefore requires immediate attention.

Zakiesato said that their present proposal is limited to Dimapur district alone.

A final consultation round will take place in January 2026, after which the committee plans to submit what it expects will be its last memorandum to the government.