THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move to open 14 new warehouses to make the liquor distribution smoother has been dropped by BEVCO due to financial liabilities. The plan was to open 17 new warehouses in addition to the 23 warehouses already in use. The ones in Neduvathoor(Calicut) Kadavanthra (Ernakulam) and Menamkulam (Thiruvanathapuram) have started to function. Plans to open the 14 others have been dropped.

Staff from other warehouses have been transferred to the new 3 temporarily. For one warehouse almost 10 staff are needed and that includes a manager, assistant manager, senior assistant, and UD clerk. For the labeling process, 10 to 20 temporary staff from Kudumbashree is also needed. For new staff, processes like creating vacancies have to be completed. Since BEVCO is going through a financial crisis it is decided not to create any new vacancies. For taking godowns a hefty amount will be necessary for rent and deposit. Since arrangements have been made for small shops and bars to buy liquor from warehouses it is evaluated that the present warehouses will suffice.

The plan to open more outlets for sales to observe the high court order that the crowd in front of shops has to be reduced did not go according to plan. Only the outlets at Vattappara, Peroorkada (Thiruvananthapuram), and Kadappakada (Kollam) could be opened. Counting them the total number of shops became 270. The unavailability of shops is the said reason. But it has also come to a knowledge that BEVCO was instructed not to rush into opening new outlets. The 2nd Pinarayi government has given new licenses to 47 bars.