Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today ordered for preparation of a comprehensive action plan on industries related to the pre-fermentation version of palm tree juice (neera), after Agricultural scientists from Tamil Nadu showed him about products that can be made from it.
The Tamil Nadu Agriculture University team led by its former Dean (Horticulture) V Punnuswami gave a presentation of food items like jaggery, candy, honey and other products that could be manufactured from 'neera' (palm tree juice before fermentation) and 'toddy' (after fermentation), an official release said here.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between the southern university and Bihar Agriculture University at Sabour in Bhagalpur to work together.
An entrepreneur D Subratha Devi from Tuticorin engaged with Neera trade also shared her experience on the occasion.
Following the presentation, Kumar ordered officials to prepare an action plan on industries related to Neera, the release said.
The CM said the number of palm trees in the state and the amount of 'neera' produced from them should be ascertained while preparing the action plan.
While announcing complete ban on sale and manufacture of alcohol in the state on April 5, Kumar had made it clear that sale of 'toddy' would be permitted in accordance with a 1991 guideline, but plans would be made for commercially harnessing 'neera' which does not contain alcohol.
He had said Bihar will follow Tamil Nadu which has the maximum number of palm trees in the country and the state has successfully exploited neera and toddy juice to manufacture items which enhanced income of people involved with the trade.
Opposition parties created a hue and cry alleging that the income of Pasi community traditionally engaged with toddy trade would be hard bit.
However, Kumar then said, state government would work out a plan to increase income of toddy traders by selling products made out of neera.
Industries Minister Jai Kumar Singh and senior government officers were present during the presentation.
Nitish, however, stressed that "jan chetna" or mass
awareness as well as a stringentliquorlaw is needed for better implementation of prohibition.
The Bihar CM said he would ask his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh to enforce liquor ban as people have already started spreading awareness for prohibition.
He also requested the Chhattisgarh Government to send a team to Bihar to see the "successful enforcement of liquor ban and the response of people to the measure."
"Chhattisagrh is a peaceful and prosperous state, and people are good here. Nature has given a lot of things to the state which is full of natural resources. If liquor ban is implemented here, it will become a model state," he said.
Notably, Chhattisgarh Cabinet had recently approved the Chhattisgarh Excise (Amendment) Bill 2017, which will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly later this week.
The government aims to create a corporation that will facilitate the sale of both foreign and Indian liquor through government outlets.
However, the decision has drawn a flak, with women and various social groups having launched protests in several parts of the state demanding a ban on liquor.
The opposition Congress has tried to disrupt the proceeding of the House on many occasions during the ongoing Budget session, seeking ban on liquor.
