SHILLONG: Though there is a long pending demand from NGOs and wine makers to legalise fruit wine making in the state, but the government till date has not taken a call on the matter.
The president of Forever Young Club, Michael Syiem lamented that till now there is no communication or follow-up on the matter from the state government.
Syiem said that the former Excise Minister, AT Mondal took keen interest in the matter and even officers were sent to Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh to get feedbacks but later no initiative was taken after the portfolio of Mondal was changed. He added that legalising fruit wine making would boost horticulture sector.“We can give value addition to the horticulture products. Besides, farmers would get lot of benefits,” he said.
The idea of legalising the fruit wine making in the state is also expected to attract lot of tourists just as in Goa, ‘feni’ is a popular drink among tourists who visit that state.
