Kozhikode: CPI has once again voiced its dissent over CPM’s one-upmanship in taking decisions regarding matters that affect the interests of the people of Kerala. As the controversy over granting permission for the brewery plant in Elappully, Palakkad district, heats up and creates confusion among LDF supporters, the second-largest party in the LDF has expressed its opposition to the project through the party mouthpiece, Janayugam.

In an article published in Janayugam by senior leader Sathyan Mokeri, a member of the party's National Council, it was stated that this decision has caused concern among farmers and that the government should withdraw from this project, which does not align with the interests of the state.

The article points out that water used for agriculture should not be diverted for alcohol production. It calls for the government to reconsider its stance on such initiatives, urging it to review and amend decisions that do not align with the people's interests.

The article further explains that both water and suitable land are essential for farming, and as of now, both are under threat. There is a growing trend of releasing water from the Malampuzha Dam for other purposes, leading to situations where farmers do not receive enough water for agriculture. The agricultural sector in Palakkad has been facing numerous challenges.

Farmers have been going through a tough time, expecting a torrid summer. Under such extreme circumstances, primary permission was granted to start a brewery in the Elappully Panchayat of the Malampuzha Legislative Assembly constituency. This raises the question of whether alcohol or rice should be produced from the rice fields in Palakkad. There is criticism in the article regarding this matter.

It argues that when water is taken for the brewery’s needs, it will prevent the agricultural sector from accessing the water required for farming. Such a situation would lead to the collapse of agriculture. "If water from the Malampuzha Dam is allocated for alcohol production, agriculture will be destroyed," Satyan Mokeri says in his article.

The brewery was granted primary permission in an area that falls under the ‘Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008’. The article calls for a re-evaluation of the special permission granted to the plant, urging the protection of the interests of farmers, workers, and the local community. The article comes at a time when there is widespread opposition to the brewery at the local level from the CPI.