Amendment proposal in liquor ban act referred to Church leaders

Aizawl, Mar 9 (UNI) The Mizoram government has sent an amendment proposal of Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act (MLTP) to Kohhran Hruaitute, the Church Leaders' Committee, for their comments before placing it in the Assembly.

Official sources here today said the committee has held meetings on the issue but failed to draw any conclusion and put on hold the draft for a detailed study.

In fact, the Church played an important role behind the Mizoram liquor ban act imposed in 1997 and as a result the government was also in favour of amendment after due consultation with the church leaders.

The church leaders has entrusted a three-member committee, comprising Rev Lalhmangaiha (Presbyterian), Rev R Lalrinsanga (UPC NE) and Robert Lalchhuana (Roman Catholic) to carry out a detailed study.

''Whether the MLTP Act will be amended depends on the church leaders' decision but the church leaders have a broader outlook over the issue since the MLTP amendment aims at commercialisation of our agricultural products,''a highly-placed official source said.

There has been a campaign for MLTP amendment since last few years following the harvest of Bangalore Blue variety grapes in Mizoram, mainly in Hnahlan area in north eastern parts of the state, which was best for wine. However, due to Liquor Prohibition Act, huge quantities of grapes might get wasted, sources added.

The Zoramthanga government finally came out with a draft on MLTP Act amendment in favour of establishment of wineries with home-grown grapes and guava. The proposal has been forwarded to the church leaders' committee.

UNI