THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The reduction in the distance limit from 200 m to 50 m applies only to four and five star hotels and the 200-m limit remains in force against setting up bars (three star and below) or Bevco or Consumerfed shops near educational institutions, places of worship, SC/ST colonies and burial grounds. The distance applicable to toddy shops remains unchanged at 400 m. Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan said in a release here on Friday that the relaxation in the case of four-star and above hotels had not inconvenienced the public in any way because such places are patronised by tourists and foreigners. The relaxation would help only a few hotels by way of fresh licence.
The four-star and five-star distance norm used to be 50 m till 2012, which the UDF ministry raised to favour hotels belonging to lower category. The 200-m stipulation was not made applicable to those already functioning, either. Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair, appointed by the previous ministry to review abkari policy, had recommended diluting the distance norm for all bars- three star and above. This was because 200 m was unrealistic in Kerala’s context. But the LDF ministry had not reduced the distance as recommended by the judge. No beverages outlet closed by the UDF ministry had been reopened.
The Supreme Court meanwhile exempted bars in corporation and municipal limits from 500-m NH proximity norm. But the restriction continues in panchayats, as a result of which 533 toddy shops, 217 beer parlours and four remain closed. The LDF Government rationalized the skewed UDF policy, taking into account the slide in the State’s economy, the loss of business opportunities owing to foreigners skipping Kerala from their travel plans and the resultant fall in jobs in the tourism sector. “The new policy has been welcomed by businesses and media. The policy will help wean away youth from illicit liquor and substance abuse. The rest is all UDF propaganda”, said Mr Ramakrishnan.
