Govt invites CADA, Nupi Samaj for talks on liquor legalisation
Goa excise experts suggest modification of liquor production process in state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 24 2022:
Consequent to sharp objection against legalisation of liquor brewing and sale in some parts of the state, the state government has invited Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) and Nupi Samaj leaders for a talk over the issue.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle, CAF&PD minister Leishangthem Susindro (Yaima) informed that the decision to legalise liquor was taken by the state government with the main objective to streamline or regulate the way local liquors are brewed or distilled in the state in order to prevent spurious liquor.
The government considered the impact of consuming adulterated and spurious liquor the state is facing even when there is ban in liquor consumption.
The idea was to regulate the consumption and production, he said.
Considering the objection raised by different CSOs, he had invited CADA and Nupi Samaj leaders for holding talk in this regard.
The invitation was sent under the supervision of chief minister N Biren and the talk could happen within a short time, he said.
Informing that aluminium containers are being used in the distillation of liquor in the local practice, which can produce chemical reaction with the alcohol and it can result in slow poisoning and damage to liver and other organs as compared to refined liquor, he cautioned that it can even lead to cancer unless the unsafe practice of liquor brewing and distillation is rectified.
Keeping in view of the latest finding, the government may also take up actions to ban unsafe practice in the liquor brewing tradition, he said and disclosed that the government is planning to set up two distillery plants each at Sekmai, Phayeng, Andro, Khurkhul and select Kabui villages.
Besides, the government is also planning to set up five distillery plants for filtration and re-packaging works, he added.
Meanwhile, after studying the process and method of liquor production in some areas of the state like Sekmai, Andro and Phayeng villages, a team of expert from Goa government's excise department placed their findings to state government.
It is learnt that the team from Goa suggested modification to the existing liquor production process in Sekmai, Andro and Phayeng villages so that standardised and quality liquor could be produced in the state.
The team from Goa presented its findings to the government during a joint meeting held Saturday evening at the CM's secretariat attended by chief minister N Biren and his cabinet colleagues.
The team reportedly suggested that locally produced liquor need to be refined more in view of higher alcohol content and disapproved the current practice of stocking/storing liquor in plastic tank, polythene and plastic bottle for a long time.
The team also informed the government about the need to modify' existing distillation process for production of standardised and quality liquor.
Meanwhile, a reliable source informed that the process for framing a regulation after state cabinet took the decision to lift the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 from certain areas of the state is progressing at fast pace and expected to complete the same very soon.