Chennai:
Realising the huge revenue potential in the liquor business, the Tamil Nadu government plans to allow grain-based distilleries to be set up in the state.
"Tamil Nadu doesn't have any grain-based ENA (Extra Neutral Alcohol) distillery and is transported for use in IMFS (Indian Made Foreign Spirit) units from other states. The state government is actively considering permitting establishment of grain based distilleries," the policy note for 2012-13 said.
Grain-based ENA is used in the manufacture of high quality premium IMFL brands.
In 2011-12 alone, state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation sold over 536.35 lakh cases of IMFS, as against its old record of selling 139.57 lakh cases in 1996-97.
IMFS contributes a considerable share to the state exchequer, fetching Rs 18,081.16 crore in 2011-12.