Beer units in full flow in Maharashtra despite worst drought in 40 yrs

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, June 5

Breweries and distilleries controlled by prominent politicians in Maharashtra continue to make merry with sufficient water supply even as most of the state reels under the worst drought in the last 40 years.

Despite most of the state's breweries and distilleries being located in the state's parched Marathwada region they continue to remain in operation, according to information available from the Maharashtra government's own Industries Department. 

Sixteen major breweries manufacturing prominent brands like Kingfisher, Carlsberg, Foster, Heineken, etc are located in Marathwada's Aurangabad district alone.

Across the region there are 129 units manufacturing Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country liquor in addition to beer.

Officials from the Industries Department say the breweries and distilleries continue to buy water from private tankers who incidentally source their supply from various dams in the region.

According to estimates provided by local activists, as much 60 per cent of the water in the Jaikwadi dam in Aurangabad is utilized by breweries and distilleries. 

With water stocks in the dam low due to the drought last year supply for industrial use was halted several months ago, according to officials. However tankers, which are allowed to draw water despite levels falling below the dead storage level, continue to keep the breweries and distilleries supplied.

"Beer manufcturers in Aurangabad require a minimum of 35 million litres of water daily. The government should shut down these units till the arrival of the monsoons," says Keshrichand Mehta, who heads a charitable organization called the Vardhman Parivar. 

Mehta is trying to mobilize public opinion to ensure that the government shuts down water-intensive industries like breweries, sugar factories and abattoirs in Aurangabad during the summer months when water supply is low.

The Marathwada region comprises eight districts where drinking water is now being supplied by tankers once a week. Residents are forced to depend on private suppliers for water to drink and cook.

However officials from the Industries Department say there are no orders from the government to force breweries and distilleries to suspend operations till the monsoons.