Thiruvananthapuram: The government on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee headed by additional chief secretary (taxes and excise) Asha Thomas to finalise the eligibility criteria for sanctioning breweries, bottling, compounding and blending units.
The additional chief secretary led committee will have excise commissioner, joint commissioner and additional secretary (taxes) as members. The panel was asked to submit the recommendations regarding the criteria to be adopted by October 31.
The committee comes into being a day after the government decided to scrap the decision to grant licences to three breweries and one blending-bottling plant. The decision was taken following allegations of serious irregularities raised by the Opposition UDF.
Meanwhile, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said neither the government nor excise department had committed anything illegal in granting the licences to the units. Excise minister T.P. Ramakrishnan also aired similar views.
The Chief Minister had made it clear on Monday that there would be no change in the government’s existing policy on granting licences to new breweries and bottling plants. He said those keen on setting up units could still submit their applications.
Mr Pinarayi reiterated that the government intended to make the state self sufficient in liquor manufacturing. At the moment the state gets 8 per cent of its IMFL and 40 per cent of beer requirement from outside.
