THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) has finalised the list of 34 outlets to be closed down on October 5 in accordance with the new liquor policy.
As per the government’s plan, ten percent of retail outlets will be closed down every year from October 5.
At present, the Beverages Corporation has 338 outlets and the Consumerfed 44. The latter is yet to decide on the five outlets to be shut.
Out of the 34 retail outlets of Bevco to be closed, five are in Ernakulam district, four in Idukki, three each in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam and Palakkad, two each in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Wayanad and one each in Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargod.
Excise department sources said that the 34 shops include eight that were already defunct following court cases and public protests. The remaining were identified by considering factors like sales, proximity to nearby shops and requests from people’s representatives.
Shops in areas prone to illicit liquor would not be closed down as it could help the illicit liquor lobby.
While Bevco’s employees in these shops would be retained in the corporation itself, those who are on deputation from other departments would be repatriated to the parent department once the deputation term ends.
Consumerfed chairman Joy Thomas said that five shops to be closed down would be identified soon.
