Protesters block land clearing for brewery in Elappully

People blocked the attempts of Oasis Commercial Company to clear the land in Elappully panchayat where a controversial brewery is posed to be constructed.

Those who obstructed the company’s efforts included Elappully panchayat president Revathy Babu, vice president Sunil Kumar, several governing board members, and Plachimada Samara Samithi chairman Vilayodi Venugopal.

A timely police intervention prevented a clash between the protesters and the company staff who arrived with a JCB earth mover. The protesters blocked the move alleging that construction for the proposed brewery was being launched.

However, company officials claimed they were clearing the land for a digital survey, and not for construction. Company representative Gopi Krishnan said that they were clearing undergrowth in response to complaints from local people.

A large number of local people joined the protesters alleging that the proposed brewery would deprive them of drinking water.

Elappully panchayat in the eastern side of Palakkad district has been in focus since the State government gave permission to Oasis Commercial Pvt. Ltd., a Madhya Pradesh-based brewery company, to set up a liquor plant. The proposed plant is planned at Mannukkad, the sixth ward of Elappully panchayat.

The company bought 24 acres of land for the proposed brewery, which included a four-acre agricultural land. The Congress and the BJP were in the forefront in opposing the brewery pointing out that it would upset the panchayat’s agriculture and drinking water.

The grama panchayat, ruled by the Congress, took a resolution against the brewery. A case in connection with the brewery is pending in the High Court. The case is likely to come up for hearing on October 6.