Wed Jan 29 20:22:22 IST 2025: ## Kerala Excise Minister Defends New Liquor Plant Amidst Opposition Criticism
**Thiruvananthapuram, January 29, 2025** – Kerala Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh on Wednesday defended the state government’s approval of a new liquor manufacturing unit in Palakkad, refuting allegations of a lack of transparency and consultation with other departments. The Minister stated that the project, spearheaded by Oasis Commercial Private Ltd., underwent a rigorous fourteen-month process involving ten levels of checks before receiving preliminary sanction.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan had earlier criticized the project, claiming insufficient inter-departmental consultation. Minister Rajesh countered these claims, asserting that the Cabinet note detailing the approval process has been publicly available on the government website. He attributed the opposition to a “smokescreen of half-truths and misinformation.”
The Minister also addressed concerns raised by Left Democratic Front (LDF) allies, the CPI and JD(S), particularly regarding water usage. He emphasized that the plant would not utilize any groundwater, aiming to alleviate these anxieties through internal LDF discussions.
Furthermore, Minister Rajesh highlighted the potential economic benefits, stating that the plant would reduce reliance on external spirit suppliers, resulting in significant savings on transportation costs and GST. He pointed out that several existing spirit suppliers in Kerala are linked to ministers from other states, including a Congress minister in Karnataka and the husband of a Maharashtra BJP minister. The Minister expressed confidence that the project would proceed despite the controversy.
First Piper 