Alcoholic drinks made from cashew, mahua and fruits shed ‘country liquor’ status, gets ‘foreign’ tag

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After reducing taxes on the imported liquor, the state government has now decided to create new sub-license categories for vendors who deal exclusively with very high quality liquor.

In addition, the home department's proposal to boost domestic production and market liquor made from cashew, mahua flowers, other flowers and fruits also got cabinet nod on Wednesday. The move will generate more revenue for the cash-strapped government.

Existing outlets with FL-2 licence will be upgraded to the ‘super premium' sub-category, by charging double the annual fees, based on the area of the outlet and the facilities available.

For this sub-category, outlets must have an area of at least 601 square metres, whereas the same for ‘elite' outlets, for which annual charges will be one and a half times of the existing fees, will be between 71 and 600 sqm. All vending outlets, which will have to follow the policy of being away from educational and religious places, will be allowed self-service and walk-in facilities. The rules of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949 will be changed to implement the new policy.

Local goes global

The desi status of domestic liquor made from cashew, mahua flowers, various other flowers and fruits has been changed to IMFL (foreign liquor) with a policy for distilling and blending of such liquor approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. Such liquors were categorised as country liquor in 2005. The government said that the upgrade will end the restrictions on marketing and value addition. In addition, such produce will also be called ‘local liquor', said a statement from the CM's Office.

"This will create more jobs and add to the state revenue. Perishable agro produce like flowers, fruits that get destroyed in natural calamities will also be used to distil alcohol, thus producers too will benefit," added the CMO.

The interested parties will be given distillery licences and permission for blending through a single-window system. The liquor thus produced will get a discount in state excise and can be sold by retail outlets, permit rooms, clubs and those with temporary permits for special occasions.

Districts to reserve 5 per cent fund for schools

The cabinet decided that the district development committees will reserve at least 5 per cent of its total funding for zilla parishad-run primary and middle schools. As per the proposal, the fund will be utilised to repair buildings and classrooms as well as building ramps and washrooms for physically disabled students. Other facilities include drinking water, sanitation, library and talking walls, independent common rooms for girl students, creating playgrounds and constructing fencing walls. In addition, the department wants to build science and computer labs, digital rooms along with provision of WiFi at schools.

Tirupati temple to come up in Navi Mumbai

The cabinet also allotted a piece of land in Ulwe Node in Navi Mumbai for construction of Tirupati Lord Venkateswara temple. The lease rent will be a mere R1 per sqm for 40,000-sqm land. It also extended the lease of government land on which Swami Gagangiri Maharaj Ashram is built in Manori, Borivli by 30 years.