Locals not in favour of winery projects

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 23

Even as the state government is yet to sign a fresh MoU with Himachal Indage Ltd for the setting up of two winery projects at Nagwain and Pragatinagar, it is not just the locals who seem to be opposed to the move but even horticulture experts are skeptical about the success of grape cultivation in Himachal.

Though the Cabinet has given nod for the signing of a fresh MoU with the changed terms and conditions, including a lease period of 40 years and a deadline of four years, to start wine production a demand by the panchayats adjoining Nagwain area of Mandi for taking the locals into confidence and holding of a public hearing is gaining momentum.

The two winery projects were proposed at Pragtinagar in Shimla and Nagwain in Mandi for which an MoU was signed in 2001. However, the project failed to take off. The first agreement with Himachal Indage Ltd was signed in 2001, which was cancelled and later signed in 2005 only to be terminated again in April 2011. “The project had failed to take off for the last 16 years and this has already caused a huge revenue loss to the state exchequer and practically with no benefits to the affected people in terms of promised employment and income,” said Brig Kushal Thakur (retd), a Kargil veteran, who hails from Nagwain village. He added that the situation has changed drastically in the last 16 years when the project was conceived and today people residing in the villagers around Nagwain having small land holdings prefer growing exotic vegetables and fruit plants like pomegranate which fetch them a handsome income as compared to grapes.

He demanded that the government must review its decision of giving the priceless piece of land for grape winery. “The government must circulate the draft MOU to concerned panchayats and public as a matter of transparency besides conducting a public hearing to seek public views for better alternate utilization of the land,” he suggested.

“The basic fact is that the climate of Himachal Pradesh, except some areas of Kinnaur district, is not at all suitable for growing grapes. The fruit requires dry and rain-free period at the time of ripening,” said Dr Chiranjit Parmar, a fruit scientist, based at Mandi. He explained that in Himachal (even in the whole of North West India) rains start from the second half of June when the berries of grapes are in the developing stage, resulting in splitting and rotting. The fruit never ripens. Parmar added that the winery projects would not be suitable at all, considering the state’s climatic conditions.

The trial of cultivating imported grape plants, distributed among a few selected farmers in 2002-03, failed as the grapes could not achieve the laid down quality parameters and were not found suitable for making wine, say locals. Himachal Indage Ltd has already paid the entire amount of Rs 1 crore for 55.7 bighas of land at Nagwain and Rs 19.05 lakh for the 14.10 bighas of land at Pragatinagar. This amount will now be treated as the lease amount for 40 years.