Govt to promote Moha liquor production

Mumbai, Mar 13 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said the government will soon formulate a scheme that will be beneficial for establishing wineries, producing liquor from cashew seeds and Moha flower as it will provide huge employment in the tribal sector.

Intervening the statement on calling attention being given by Nana Patole (Cong) and others, Mr Deshmukh admitted that this sector, which has a huge potential of employment generation, had remained untouched.

Earlier, Forest Minister Baban Pachpute said the state has 3.35 crore Moha trees and has the capacity of producing 50,000 tonnes of Moha flower and 20,000 seeds and added that one kg Moha flower can generate 320 ml liquor, which is healthy and is considered as ''herbal liquor''.

He said the government is thinking to bring the Moha flower business, which is segregated, under one umbrella and added that they were also thinking of attaching nets under Moha trees to collect the flowers.

Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar urged the Vidarbha Legislators to come together and meet the Chief Minister on this issue.

Mr Pachpute said that apart from liquor, Moha can be used for oil, soap cakes and even in human and cattle feed.

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