Pathanamthitta: A new crisis has arisen in the production of 'Jawan' liquor, which has been stopped for two weeks in the Travancore Sugars and Chemicals Limited (TCSL) in Thiruvalla. Contaminants were found in 1.75 lakh litres of blended spirit kept in the tanks. With this, the Excise department has directed to purify the spirit again.

The liquor production was interrupted after some higher officials of TCSL were booked in a spirit theft case two weeks ago. The contaminants were detected in a chemical test carried out ahead of filling the liquor in bottles. The test result pointed out that the spirit is not fit for human consumption.

The blended spirit stored in the tanks have to be purified and sent for test again. Only after the test result turns positive, the company will get permission to fill the liquor in bottles and produce new batch of liquor, the Excise officials stated.

Meanwhile, the Beverages Corporation claimed that though the first test result was negative, the second test showed positive results. However, the Excise took a strong stand that this result cannot be taken into account and the spirit should be purified again.