THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: About 30 beer and wine parlours that were shut following the Supreme Court's distance norm have been reopened and many more are expecting favourable court orders. Thanks to two 17-year-old notifications of the Public Works Department as well as the coming up of national highway by-passes. According to excise department sources, 17 beer and wine parlours and two clubs in Kochi, seven beer and wine parlours in Kozhikode and three in Kottayam were reopened with provisional orders of the High Court.
The owners of about 25 closed beer and wine parlours in the state capital have already moved the court and some five-star hotels and clubs that lost the bars are also exploring the option. The PWD had issued two notifications on April 7 in 2000 under the Kerala Highway Protection Act. While one notification declared 136 stretches in Thiruvananthapuram city, 34 in Kochi and 14 in Kozhikode as city roads, another notification declared 1691 stretches in 14 districts as major district roads. These included portions of the national and state highways also. These notifications are being used by the bars, clubs and beer and wine parlours to overcome the Supreme Court directive to close down liquor outlets within 500 metres from national and state highways.
On the basis of the these notifications, many beer and wine parlours and two clubs have got their shops opened. They included 17 beer and wine parlours and two clubs along the Edapally – Thevara stretch, three beer and wine parlours along Kottayam – Kumarakom stretch and one in Kozhikode. A couple of star hotels, clubs and beer and wine parlours in the state capital are also seeking relaxations citing the PWD notification. Six beer and wine parlours in Kozhikode along the old national highway at Vadakara got court orders to reopen after the PWD officials said that the stretch had lost the NH status after a by-pass was opened.
In a similar move, about two dozen beer and wine parlours in Thiruvananthapuram are approaching the court citing that with the opening of the NH by-pass from Kazhakkoottam - Chakkai – Kovalam, the Kazhakoottam – Ulloor – MG road stretch can’t be considered as NH. Kerala Bar Hotels Association working president Mr. Biju Ramesh said that about 23 beer and wine parlours would be able to resume operation if the Kazhakoottam – Ulloor – MG road stretch is not considered as NH. “At present both the by-pass as well as the Kazhakoottam – Ulloor – MG road stretch are considered as NH, which is illogical,” he said.
