The Hindu 19.03.2013
Civic bodies misused bar licence approval powers
The decision to empower Panchayati Raj institutions to
issue licence to liquor shops in the State has been misused by local
bodies, Minister for Excise K. Babu has said.
Replying
to questions in the Assembly on Monday, Mr. Babu said as many as 10
panchayats, one municipality, and one city Corporation granted bar
licence after the government’s decision to empower the local bodies.
“We
had good intention, and it was aimed at making the norms in granting
the bar licence strict. But these local bodies have misused it,” he
said.
On the request of the Excise Minister, Deputy
Leader of the Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the House that the
Left Democratic Front (LDF) was against granting powers to the local
bodies to issue bar licence. He said this was the policy of the LDF, and
recent instances had revealed that corruption had become decentralised.
The
Minister said the Excise Department was taking steps to make the
hologram on liquor bottles foolproof and was incorporating suggestions
from the intelligence wing. Volunteers of the National Service Scheme
and Kudumbasree, Student Police Cadets, and residents’ associations had
been roped in for the awareness programmes aimed at reducing liquor
consumption.
Mr. Babu said the Kerala State Beverages
Corporation had purchased Indian-Made Foreign Liquor from 10 private
companies, including five from the State, for Rs.1,074.93 crore during
2011-12. The District Collectors had been asked to identify places to
relocate the outlets of the corporation from congested areas and busy
roads.
Minister for Home and Vigilance Thiruvanchoor
Radhakrishnan informed the House that the government was taking steps to
strengthen forensic laboratories and issue chemical certificates
without any delay.
One more forensic laboratory would be set up in the State, and this had been stated in the Budget.
