Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Amid reports of differences in the ruling UDF over the new liquor policy aimed at curbing liquor availability, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday reaffirmed that his government would not go back on it despite the huge revenue loss to the state.
There were lot of challenges in implementing the policy, but the problems caused in the society due to liquor consumption was much more than that, he said while inaugurating the Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi celebrations at Sivagiri Mutt at nearby Varkala.
"The steps taken forward in this regard will not be taken back," Chandy said, adding, the revenue loss would come to around Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 crore.
However, the ill effects of liquor consumption was much more than this, Chandy said, "the government needed the support of all sections of the society for the new policy".
With the new policy coming into effect, only bars attached to five star hotels would function in the state from September 13.
Besides this, the Beverages Corporation, the sole dealer of IMFL, would also close down nearly 10 per cent of its outlets every year, to make total prohibition in 10 years time.
Striking a different note, state Labour Minister Shibu Babu John has said that states like Kerala would not be able to withstand the revenue loss of this magnitude.
"The state itself will become a victim of the new policy," he has said.
State Finance Minister K M Mani had stated that he should not be blamed for the "financial crisis" the state would have to face in the wake of revenue loss due to the new policy.
