Functioning of the remaining liquor retail outlets and beer-wine parlours in the district is likely to be affected in the coming days with the BJP-ruled Palakkad municipality deciding not to renew the mandatory Industries, Factories and Other Trades (IFOT) Licence to the warehouse of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) at SBI Junction here.
The municipality said the decision was based on the municipal council’s resolution not to allow any liquor business within its limits. The move would affect the supply of beverages to the liquor outlets in the district. The crisis is likely to continue till the Bevco finds a warehouse outside the municipal limits.
It was only last week that the municipality invoked the provisions of the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Licensing of Dangerous and Offensive Trades and Factories) Rules, 1996, to close down all the retail liquor outlets of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) and Consumerfed in the town limits. Only a single Consumerfed outlet is now functioning within the municipal limits, in the strength of a court order. According to Bevco officials, the warehouse has 150 staff and they will turn jobless till alternative arrangements are made. The only other warehouse of the Bevco in the district is located at far away Menon Para.
To approach court
Bevco officials said they would challenge the decision in the court as the facility was used to store, and not retail, liquor and caused no discomfort to the public, they said.
The closure of the warehouse would also affect supply of liquor to three private beer and wine parlours within the municipal limits.
While the municipality said it was using powers vested with it to honour the prevailing public sentiments, the coordination committee of employees in the retail outlets termed the move discriminatory and against the spirit of the Excise policy.
Only 7 outlets
The municipality has started acting tough against the liquor retail outlets after the Supreme Court directed closure of liquor vends located close to national and State highways. Only seven of the earlier 21 retail outlets are now functioning in Palakkad, the largest district in the State.
