Should Palakkad produce rice or liquor? CPI lashes out at state govt on distillery nod

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The evident rift within the LDF over the decision to establish Rs 600 crore worth of grain-based distillation and brewery units in Palakkad has widened, with CPI national council member Sathyan Mokeri slamming the move. In an article on the need to conserve soil, water and environment published in CPI mouthpiece Janayugom, he points out that paddy farmers in Palakkad face severe water scarcity.
"When farmers are grappling with multiple issues related to availability of water for farming, a preliminary nod was given for distillery unit at Elappully gram panchayat in Palakkad. This raises a question as to whether rice or liquor that needs to be produced in Palakkad. Where does the water for the liquor industry come from? Shouldn't the priority be conserving agriculture?," he says in the article.
Mokeri further says that once water is utilised for liquor production, the farming sector will be deprived. This shall create a serious situation where the entire agricultural sector will be stalled. Elappully is one area with one of the lowest availability of groundwater," notes Mokeri.
In the article, Mokeri demands that the government should withdraw from the move to utilise water for liquor production when it is actually meant for farming. "When projects not suited to public interest are flagged, there shall be an attempt to scrutinize and rectify. The nod given for the liquor company shall be assessed again," he said, recalling a massive public campaign that had previously curbed private companies' attempts to exploit water.