Bangalore: Renukacharya Moots Liquor Manufacture from Beetroot

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 14: Karnataka’s Excise Minister M P Renukacharya, who is always in the news on one pretext or another, has now come out with a move to bring an amendment to the existing excise laws in the State to facilitate manufacture of liquor from beetroot.

Several sugar manufacturing firms including Renuka Sugars and Godaravi Sugars have approached the state Government seeking permission to manufacture Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) out of beetroot, a non-fruit variant, Renukacharya told reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The Technical Evaluation Committee, which examined the proposal in detail, has favoured grant of licenses to the two sugar units to manufacture liquor from the beetroot, he said.

Under the existing laws, the minister said there was no provision for awarding licences to manufacture liquor from beetroot. The present laws and rules will have to be amended if the proposal were to be accepted.

"The amendment to the law would be brought in the next session of the legislature, if the Chief Minister and the State Cabinet approved the proposal," Renukacharya said.

"The new amended law would not only include beetroot but also all other non-fruits variants," he said.

Manufacture of liquor sourcing beetroot would help the farming community, especially those from arid districts where average rainfall was very less compared to other region, the minister explained.

''Beetroot variety which contains about 16 per cent of sugar can be cultivated in those areas where the average rainfall is less compared to other regions," he said adding, "About 350 litres of liquor can be generated by crushing one metric ton of beetroot."

The decision to grant license to manufacture liquor from beetroot would also bolster employment opportunities in the rural region, besides bringing additional revenue to the farmers, the minister said.

The experiment to manufacture wine from tomato by an ex-serviceman at Kolar district has also yielded desired results.

Several hotels in Bangalore city have came forward to install the micro breweries at their places, the minister said pointing out that an unit with a capacity of 500 litres for manufacturing beer has already been put up by a star hotel.

More hotels will permitted to set up micro breweries in the city in the coming days, he said there was a great demand for consuming freshly brewed beer, Renukacharya said.

Excise personnel would be equipped weapons, including pistols, as part of the plans to strengthen the enforcement wing of the Excise Department, he said adding: We are waiting for clearance from the Finance Department."