The now-defunct government sugar factory at Menonpara, near Chittur, here is likely to get a new lease of life with the State government actively considering a proposal from the Excise Department to convert it into a sister concern of the Thiruvalla-based Travancore Sugars and Chemicals Limited to manufacture Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).

Once the government gives its sanction, the factory, which was recently renamed Malabar Distillery and monitored by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation, will start producing a popular brand of liquor. Presently manufactured by the Thiruvalla-based State PSU, the brand has huge demand among tipplers across the State because of its superior quality and competitive price.

Its sale is presently confined to the southern and central Kerala districts. Once the Malabar Distillery starts functioning, the demand from north Kerala districts can be met.

Staff support move

During his recent visit to the factory, Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan discussed the possibility of reviving the factory with its workforce and the employees extended their support for the move.

Though proposals were made earlier to start manufacturing IMFL at the factory, the moves were thwarted by private distilleries functioning in the Palakkad and Kanjikode areas.

“We have long been demanding starting of liquor production at the factory. That is the only way to infuse a new lease of life into the factory which contributed immensely to the industrial growth of the State in the past,” said Suresh Konganpara, employees’ union leader.

From 1965

Started in 1965 as a cooperative enterprise to support sugar cane farmers of Palakkad, the factory was manufacturing sugar till 2003. However, the unit started incurring losses ever since arrack was banned in the State. Its main revenue was from the arrack generated from converting spirit which the State government used to retail across the State.

Declared sick in 2009

The company was declared sick in 2009 and its ownership was transferred to Beverages Corporation the same year.

The corporation took 48 among the company’s workforce and deputed to its retail outlets. Fourteen others are guarding the factory unit while the remaining 15 are doing security services for the local warehouse of the corporation.

The company owns 114 acres of land apart from a building complex.

It also has a corpus fund of Rs. 2.75 crore and that can be used for initial expenditure related to liquor production.

here is company details.

 

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