Faced with strong public resentment over allowing water guzzling liquor distilleries in Kanjikode industrial belt to exploit water resources of the region in spite of an acute drought, the State government has imposed a severe cut on the daily quota of sanctioned amount of water for them till May 31. The Water Resources Department has informed that it has imposed a 75 per cent cut on the daily quota for liquor distilleries.

The Hindu had reported earlier that two major plants manufacturing beer and distilled spirit meant for alcoholic beverages in Kanjikode were indiscriminately diverting a huge portion of the drinking water stored at Kerala’s largest reservoir, Malampuzha. An order imposing the regulation came into effect on Tuesday.

Kanjikode and Malampuzha areas have witnessed large-scale public protests after official data received by Right to Information (RTI) activist P. Rajeev confirmed that liquor manufacturing major UB Distilleries alone was diverting 5 lakh litres of treated drinking water on a daily basis from the Malampuzha reservoir at discounted tariff and that too by using the supply chain of Kerala Water Authority.

Liquor manufacturer MP Distilleries was hitherto using 33,000 litres of treated drinking water from the reservoir daily at the same discounted tariff. The local community had alleged that these two liquor manufacturers had caused drinking water scarcity in the locality along with Pepsico India’s bottling plant at Pudussery that allegedly draws nearly 6.5 to 15 lakh litres of groundwater a day in the place of the permission granted to draw 2.4 lakh litres of ground water daily. Despite assurances from the State government to regulate consumption by Pepsico, no order was issued against it.

“Water guzzlers of Kanjikode include half-a-dozen liquor manufacturing plants, dyeing units, steel re-rolling mills and iron smelting units. The restriction imposed on the distilleries constitutes only a minor part of the remedial measures. We need comprehensive measures to address the frightening situation,” said environmentalist P.S. Panicker.

Directive to KSEB

Meanwhile, KWA officials said they have instructed the Kerala State Electricity Board to closely monitor diversion of drinking water for irrigation and industrial purposes. Stringent measures, including severing of electric connection, would be initiated against the violators, they said. Strong action would be initiated against illegal brick kilns and those who engage in sand filteration.