Toddy shops in big demand in Alappuzha

ALAPPUZHA: The lowly toddy shops have  gained popularity with the closure of liquor bars.  This was evident from  the  auction conducted in various excise ranges here on Wednesday.   There were 240  bidders  for  38 toddy shops which were, till last year, put up for resale as there were no takers.  According to excise officials,  Rs 14.2 lakh was  collected in the auction. The unavailability of liquor due to the closure of Bevco outlets  is the major reason for the scramble for the toddy shops.  

As many as 11 shops in Mavelikara, six  in  Kuttanad and  seven each in Cherthala, Kayamkulam and  Alappuzha range were sold. Mr S.  Sajeev, excise officer in charge of auction, said  strict norms were clamped for the auction. The  applicants  needed to produce nine certificates regarding the facilities offered and the applications were approved only after the spot report of excise range officers concerned. The   shops  whose licences were  suspended after being caught in  abkari cases would be re-auctioned  before  March 17, 2017, he said.

The sale of toddy in the shops in Alappuzha and Kuttanad  will pick up in the upcoming weeks due to the  Nehru Trophy boat race next month.   An  average of 700 litres of toddy is being sold daily  for tourists from 15 toddy shops situated on the banks of Punnamada lake. Each shop sells at least 30 litres of toddy during the season.   Mr J. Jinu, owner of a toddy shop,  says they get business mainly from the houseboats, which  often anchor near  the  shops.  “The authorities should   ensure hygiene in the auctioned shops,”  says Mr Switen George, vice-president, Kerala Houseboat Owners’ Association.