The decision to reject the application was taken unanimously by the Council.
KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation has rejected the application given by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation to start its premium outlet on O.P. Raman Road at Moolampally near the Civil Station. The council meeting held on Monday approved the decision taken by the Corporation Steering Committee on October 17 to reject the application. The outlet was facing protest from activists of residents’ associations led by Malaparamba ward councillor K.C. Shobitha and prohibition campaigners under the banner of Kerala Madya Nirodhana Samithi ever since it began functioning on October 3.
The Mayor also directed the council to convey the decision via registered post as well as email to the Bevco at the earliest in order to avoid any legal issues in future. The outlet, which was closed after agitation, reopened on Saturday following a stay granted by court on the case filed by Kozhikode Corporation. Speaking at the Council meeting, Corporation Health Committee Chairman K . V. Baburaj informed the Mayor that the outlet will lead to serious law and order issues. The decision to reject the application was taken unanimously by the Council.
It is to be noted that the decision was taken despite state excise minister saying that he was all for the opening of the outlet. The outlet was shifted to Civil Station premises from Eranjippalam. The first council meeting after the UDF candidate won the Areekkad ward by-election witnessed a walk-out from the Opposition after the Mayor refused UDF councillor P.M. Niyas’ request for call-attention motion congratulating the winner and demanding the Mayor to resign based on moral grounds.
Mayor Thottathil Raveendran said that the request for motion was not submitted based on rules and cannot be presented at the council. The Mayor said that he will request the state government to call a meeting of officials concerned to discuss about the traffic violations in city in reply to Eranjippalam councillor Bijuraj T.C’s motion. Moonnalingal councillor Thomas Mathew demanded immediate repair of AC at Tagore Hall.
