Eyeing export, NRI keen to set up whisky plant in state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 11

An NRI from Poland has expressed his willingness to set up a whisky plant in Himachal and discussed the proposal with Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda.

Owner of the company Varun Rajput, who hails from Kangra district, had a meeting with Markanda during the Global Investors’ Meet in Dharamsala.

Confirming the intent of the Poland company to set up a whisky plant, Markanda said the investor had asked for land on lease in the Lahaul valley for growing barley, the main ingredient for manufacturing whisky, as barley, grown in the snow line area, is disease-free and of high quality.

The plant is likely to be set up in the industrial area of Una, Kala Amb or Nalagarh. Barley produced in the cold deserts will be brought to the site for manufacturing export-quality whisky.

It will be a boon for local farmers as the investors will provide them high-breed seeds and the barley be purchased by the company. About 100 quintals of barley seeds will be provided to farmers for cultivation and the lease money, which is normally Rs 40,000 per bigha, will be paid at the 25 to 30 per cent excess rate.

The unit will be set up with an estimated cost of about Rs 200 crore. The monthly requirement of barley is about 20 tonnes.

Varun Rajput has demanded 40 bighas and if the deal matures, hundreds of local youths will get employment.

The Rohtang Tunnel, connecting the Lahaul valley with the all-weather road, is likely to be completed in 2020 and it will be easier for the company to transport the product throughout the year.