After 20 Deaths, State Moves To Prevent Methanol Diversion
In the wake of the Pune hooch tragedy that claimed 20 lives, the Maharashtra State Excise Department has asked the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to strengthen monitoring of methanol and prevent the industrial chemical from being diverted for the manufacture of illicit liquor.
Mumbai: In the wake of the Pune hooch tragedy that claimed 20 lives, the Maharashtra State Excise Department has asked the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to strengthen monitoring of methanol and prevent the industrial chemical from being diverted for the manufacture of illicit liquor. In a letter sent to the FDA, the Excise Department sought strict enforcement of provisions under a 2011 government notification regulating the sale, possession and use of methanol, also known as methyl alcohol. The department has emphasised the need for a robust tracking mechanism to monitor the movement of methanol from production to end use.
Officials said the Excise Department has asked the FDA to maintain a digital record of the entire methanol supply chain, enabling authorities to track every transaction and prevent diversion of the substance. The objective is to ensure that methanol, widely used in industrial and pharmaceutical applications, does not find its way into the illegal liquor trade.
Under the Maharashtra Poisons (Amendment) Rules, 2011, methanol can be sold only to licensed purchasers, and sellers are required to verify the intended use of the chemical before completing a transaction. The rules also mandate strict licensing requirements for businesses dealing in methanol and provide for confiscation of the substance if found in possession without a valid licence.
The regulations further stipulate that, except in the case of FDA-approved drug manufacturers, methanol must be mixed with methylene carmine and a bittering agent, denatonium saccharide, before sale to prevent its misuse in the manufacture of illicit liquor.
The Excise Department has stressed that effective implementation of these regulations is critical to preventing the misuse of methanol, which is highly toxic and can cause blindness, organ failure and death if consumed.
The directive comes amid heightened scrutiny of chemicals used in the manufacture of spurious liquor following the Pune tragedy.
A senior official said the state government was determined to ensure that methanol was not diverted for the production of alcoholic beverages. “We have directed the FDA to maintain a digital record of every drop of methanol throughout the supply chain to prevent its misuse and ensure complete traceability,” the official said.
Sanjay Khandare, Additional Chief Secretary of the Tourism Department, who is also holding additional charge of the FDA, confirmed the development. “We have acknowledged the need for digital monitoring of methanol. A mechanism is being developed to ensure effective tracking of its supply and use,” Mr. Khandare said.
The crackdown follows the deaths of 20 people in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad after consuming suspected methanol-laced illicit liquor last week. The CID, which is probing the case, has arrested nine persons so far.
Investigators have found that a key accused allegedly procured more than 200 litres of methanol through a private firm, prompting the Excise Department to tighten oversight of the chemical's supply chain and prevent its diversion for illicit liquor production.
