Effective steps taken to check spirit smuggling

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 28: Kerala Excise Minister P K Gurudasan told the State Assembly today that effective steps are being taken to check the smuggling of rectified spirit into the state with the cooperation of Police and Revenue Departments.

Replying to a calling attention motion by Mr T N Prathapan (Cong), he said officials confiscating the contraband would be suitably rewarded.

Mr Gurudasan said instances of smugglers using boats to bring spirit from the neighbourig states by sea had also come to the notice of the government and necessary steps have already been taken to thwart such attempts.

He said existing laws prevented the government from issuing licences for opening new bars and liquor outlets.

Replying to a submission by Mr S Rajendran (CPI-M ), Mr Gurudasan, who is also in charge of Labour Department, said talks were on with the management of Kanan Devan Hill Plantation company for lifting the 'lockout' at its three estates in Idukki district.

The Additional Labour Commissioner had convened a conference of the management and labour representatives in Kochi this evening following the failure of talks held by the Idukki district labour officer yesterday, he said.

Mr Gurudasan told Mr C F Thomas (KC-M) that formation of a welfare fund for goldsmiths was being mulled by the government. A small cess is proposed to be levied on jewellers to raise the fund, he added.

Replying to another submission by Mr N Anirudhan (CPI-M), Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said an expert committee had been constituted to study the problems of cooperative spinning mills and suggest remedies for their revival.

He said necessary steps would be taken for the revival of the mills on the recommendations of the committee.

UNI