Alleging massive corruption in the proposed brewery and distillery in Elappully grama panchayat in Palakkad, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has demanded that the Kerala government withdraw its approval for the project.
Speaking to mediapersons in Alappuzha on Thursday (January 30, 2025), Mr. Chennithala said the government had granted permission to Oasis Commercial Pvt Ltd to set up the brewery without informing any departments and taking coalition partners into confidence. He criticised the government for allowing “a company embroiled in the Delhi liquor policy scam” to establish the brewery.
“The Communist Party of India has come out against the project. The JD(S) has also expressed its opposition. When I raised questions about the project in the Assembly, it was the Chief Minister who responded. Instead of addressing the concerns, he made counter-allegations. The Excise Minister, on the other hand, avoided responding,” Mr. Chennithala said.
Government order cited
He pointed out that a government order has been in place stating that no new breweries should be started after 2019. While the government initially rejected the private company’s application, it changed the policy to grant permission for the brewery, he alleged.
“During the tenure of the (E.K.) Nayanar government, permission for a brewery was granted by following due procedures. Advertisements were issued inviting applications. A shortlist was prepared and selection was made accordingly. However, in this case, permission was granted by altering the liquor policy, which constitutes favouritism, nepotism and corruption,” Mr. Chennithala said.
The Congress leader said that Elappully was facing groundwater scarcity. “The Excise Minister now says the project will be implemented using rainwater harvesting. However, experts point out that storing all the rainwater in the area is not feasible. At least 15 acres of land is required solely for rainwater pits. The company, however, has only 26 acres in total, which must also accommodate the factory,” Mr. Chennithala said, adding that the water from the Malampuzha dam is meant for agricultural purposes.
Stating that the public is strongly opposed to the project, Mr. Chennithala said instead of setting up a liquor production facility, the government should focus on boosting paddy cultivation in the region.
