The Kerala government-backed proposal to set up a liquor plant in Elappully village here is facing stiff opposition from the panchayat, which recently held a grama sabha to collect signatures against the project. The grama panchayat is to explore a legal route to stop the project.
However, the State government appears unfazed by the panchayat’s initiative. Local Self-Governments and Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh said on Thursday that the panchayat was “not an independent sovereign republic” and was subject to the laws of the land. The brewery project was approved by the State Cabinet, subject to it getting all necessary permissions.
“If it gets all the requisite permissions, there is no hurdle against its establishment under the government policy,” he said, adding that “everything will happen in accordance with the law”.
The Elappully panchayat, on the other hand, is planning to strongly oppose the project, claiming it would adversely affect the environment and agriculture of the village and the surrounding area within a 15-kilometre radius.
Elappully panchayat president Revathi Babu told a TV channel on Thursday that in a recent special grama sabha held in one of the 22 wards of the village, hundreds of people, including Left Democratic Front (LDF) members, participated and the majority of them signed the resolution to oppose the project.
She said that similar special grama sabhas will be held in other wards and more signatures of the people will be collected.
Ms. Babu also said that two panchayat members have already joined as parties in a case in the Kerala High Court opposing the brewery project. Besides that, the panchayat has also decided to initiate litigation against the project, she added.
The panchayat president also requested the CPI Ministers in the State government to strongly oppose the project from inside as it was not in the interests of the people of the village.
Published – October 23, 2025 08:15 pm IST
