the goan I network
BELAGAVI
Goa could well lose its monopoly over Urrack to Belagavi as many cases of illicitly distilled urrack and feni have been reported from forest areas near villages in Khanapur taluka in Belagavi district.
In one such case, Khanapur excise officials have seized Urrack and a cashew-based drink similar to feni, which is locally identified as arrack or hooch.
According to Khanapur excise officials, about five litres of Urrack and another 30 litres of a drink distilled from cashew resembling to Goan Feni was seized late Monday evening. The cost of the seized liquor was estimated at Rs 13,500.
Officials have now intensified their hunt for liquor which is being illicitly distilled inside the dense forests in the region bordering Khanapur taluka and Goa.
“Acting on specific information about liquor being illicitly distilled near the forest neighbouring Katgali village, an excise team reached there under the guidance of senior excise officials,” Khanapur Excise PI Mahesh Parit said.
“However, the culprits managed to flee in the thick forest leaving behind the distilled liquor, a motorcycle and chemicals used for distilling of urrack and liquor from cashew apple juice.”
Meanwhile, sources said due to the non-availability of Goan Feni and Urrack -- the most preferred drink in the upper ghats region -- due to the lockdown restrictions, it is being distilled in the upper ghats region.
According to sources, many workers trained in Goan distilleries, who are from the villages in Khanapur taluka, are allegedly involved in the illegal distillation of urrack.
“With quality cashew apples available aplenty in this region, these workers and locals, who have honed their skills in distilling urrack and feni, have allegedly set up several illicit units inside the forests neighbouring Goa and Karnataka,” said a source.
“Urrack distilled in this region is equal or superior in taste to the Goan urrack, hence many Goans from different walks of life visit these villages during the cashew season. The lockdown due to COVID-19 has come has blessing to these villagers, as these products fetch much higher rates than they would get in normal times,” the source added.
