Bhubaneswar: While some industries in Odisha have been allowed to reopen with strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines, the Excise Department has proposed to the state government to consider the reopening of closed bottling plants, breweries and distilleries to manufacture Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), beer and country liquor in advance.
In a letter to the Excise Principal Secretary, the Excise Commissioner has said that reopening of these units will cater to the growing need of alcohol consumers after the lifting of the third-phase of the lockdown.
The Commisioner stated that the existing stock of different liquor in shops and Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited (OSBCL) depots may meet the demand for a few days. Therefore, the yeast prepared in the breweries for manufacturing of beer may be damaged unless it is utilized early, he added.
The Commissioner further said that if permitted, the liquor manufacturing units will restrict their manpower to 50 per cent and enforce social distancing, compulsory use of masks and frequent hand washing in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines.
