The Kerala High Court on Friday set aside a government order (GO) that granted preliminary sanction to a private firm to set up an ethanol plant for a brewery at Elappulla in Palakkad district.
Divisional Judge Satish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar quashed the order while hearing a number of public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the setting up of the plant in the area. The court stated that many aspects that the government considered in granting the preliminary sanction were not factually correct.
The firm submitted an application in November 2023 to the Excise Commissioner seeking permission to install a 500 KL capacity ethanol plant and an IMFL bottling unit, among others, at the site. Subsequently, the government granted preliminary sanction.
Lack of water
The petitioners alleged that the sanction was granted on the basis of factually incorrect information, including that the unit would be set up in the Kanjikode industrial area, located about 5 km from Elappulla. In addition, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has agreed to provide water despite concerns that it would jeopardize water availability in the area. Besides, statutory licenses were not obtained from the panchayat.
While allowing the PIL and quashing the GO, the court clarified that the government was not prevented from reconsidering any application, if made.
Chennithala welcomes order
Meanwhile, Congress President and Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala has unreservedly welcomed the Supreme Court’s order denying permission to the brewery. Mr. Chennithala said it gave him immense satisfaction that the agitation he led as the then Leader of the Opposition against the government’s move to grant licenses to breweries and distilleries was yielding results.
He said the government’s move to license the brewery was part of a larger conspiracy to hand the state over to the liquor lobby.
Published – 19 Dec 2025 21:20 IST
