‘State Govt should set up chemical laboratory to test quality of liquor’
SHILLONG: In a setback of sorts to the Meghalaya Government, the Comptroller and Accountant General (CAG) has claimed that Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) produced in the State used improper quantity of spirits due to which the alcohol content in the liquor was higher than the prescribed norms.
The CAG has asked the Meghalaya Government to set up a laboratory to conduct regular testing of samples of IMFL produced in bottling plants in the state.
The CAG said that as per the standard procedure adopted by all the states including Assam, all IMFL consignments after production should be examined by a chemical examiner and since no chemical laboratory was established in the state, no checks were being conducted to ensure whether the IMFL manufactured in the bottling units was fit for human consumption or whether the strength of the spirit was in the prescribed level of 75 degree proof as indicated.
In order to examine the strength of spirit contents in IMFL bottled in various bottling units of Meghalaya, the CAG undertook chemical analysis of a few sample of bottles produced by major units located in Meghalaya and the tests indicated that except for one sample, others failed to meet the standard proof (75 %).
In 10 out of the 11 samples tested, the quantity of spirits was lower than that indicated while in two samples, the quantity of spirits contained was much higher which indicates that the alcohol content was higher than the standard proof norm.
The CAG report which was placed in the Assembly on Wednesday recommended that the government should ensure that liquor produced in the state meets the prescribed standard norm.
The CAG report also recommended that surprise inspections should be conducted on a random basis to examine the strength of IMFL being produced in the state.