Kerala govt considering to increase liquor prices: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise and local self-government minister M V Govindan said here on Thursday that the government is considering increasing the prices of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) in the state.
The minister said that a price rise is becoming inevitable due to the increase in the prices of extra neutral alcohol (ENA) which is the base for the manufacture of IMFL.
Govindan said that the government is also thinking of increasing the production of Jawan rum, which is manufactured by the Thiruvalla-based Travancore Sugars and Chemicals Ltd, a company owned by the state government.
The IMFL manufacturers have been urging the Kerala State Beverages Corporation to increase the prices in the wake of steep rise in the prices of ENA.
The manufacturers have been demanding an increase of at least 20% over the current prices. The prices of ENA had touched Rs 75 per litre, even adversely affecting the production of cheap brands like ‘Jawan’.
Life Mission list:
The minister said that the draft list of beneficiaries of the second phase of the Life Mission housing scheme is ready and will be available on the government website from Thursday night. The local bodies will publish it on Friday, the minister said, adding that there are 5,14,381 beneficiaries in the draft list.