Kerala: PWD to figure out bar reopening

Thiruvananthapuram: Reopening of liquor outlets along the Thiruvananthapuram – Cherthala national highway still remains uncertain as the Excise department has sought the Public Works Department’s opinion on the matter. With PWD Minister G Sudhakaran openly stating the national highway had not yet been de-notified, the PWD is unlikely to give a report favouring reopening of the liquor outlets. Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh told DC that the excise department sought the government’s opinion on allowing licence to the liquor outlets in the Thiruvananthapuram – Cherthala stretch in view of the recent high court order.

A decision on whether to issue the licence would be taken only after getting the government opinion. He also added that licences were issued to liquor outlets along Kannur – Kuttipuram stretch as the advocate general gave written advice on those lines. Meanwhile, excise department sources said that licences were earlier issued to many shops to avoid contempt of court proceedings.

The court had only directed it to consider the application for licence. But the time limit prescribed for taking the decision was about to expire and hence it was decided to give licences to many liquor outlets in the Kannur – Kuttipuram stretch. There are about 250 liquor outlets, including beer and wine parlours, retail outlets of Beverages Corporation and toddy shops, along the Thiruvananthapuram – Cherthala stretch.  Mr. Sudhakaran told reporters here on Monday that the state government had no confusion on the matter. No national highways in the state were de-notifiied yet, he said.