Kerala Excise Registers 6,977 Cases in Onam Drive

Kerala Excise department has registered 6,977 cases and arrested 1,770 people as part of a special enforcement drive launched ahead of the Onam festival in the state. 

Excise Minister M Liju also announced that Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) employees will be given ex gratia of Rs 1,05,000 despite the corporation's revenue being affected by the previous government's decision to increase the gallonage fee.

"BEVCO's production and sales had increased to around Rs 20,000 crore, but an



increase in the gallonage fee from five paise to Rs 10 resulted in the corporation having to pay more than Rs 400 crore to the government at one go, forcing it to draw from its reserve fund," he said. 

The government has approved an increase of Rs 2,500 in the ex-gratia amount for BEVCO employees, taking it to Rs 1,05,000 this year. 

Liju said the government also planned to professionalise BEVCO and the distilleries under it, including Travancore Sugars and Malabar Distillery.