Closed bars not to be reopened

Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan has said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has no plan to reopen any of the closed bars but will thoroughly re-examine the practicability of the current liquor policy.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Calicut Press Club here on Saturday, Mr. Ramakrishnan said total closure of bars was just a political propaganda in Kerala as all those closed units were very much engaged in the sale of beer and wine.

“As declared earlier, the policy of the government is always in favour of reducing the consumption of liquor. For the purpose, my department will take up a series of new awareness programmes,” he said.

On fresh initiatives to be taken to strengthen the Excise Department, Mr. Ramakrishnan said he had already sought a report from senior department officials on the current status and measures to be taken to ensure full-fledged functioning of the department in all areas.

The report would be submitted by them in a week’s time, he said.

The Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Labour, said there would be effective intervention on the part of the government to foster and sustain a better employer-employee relation in the State.

“Priority will be given to address the concerns of workers in the plantation sector,” he said.

The increasing number of migrant workers and their welfare would be an area of concern for the government, he said.