THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government proposes to set up a committee to study and recommend changes required in the `abkari' Act.

The Abkari Policy document for 2007-2008 approved by the Government says the committee will be asked to submit its report within six months.

The following are some of the highlights of the new policy: The Government will explore the possibility of distribution of Sweet Toddy through Workers Cooperative Societies. All the 418 FL3 bar hotels, which do not have two-star status, will be regularised. Rule 24 of the Foreign Liquor Rules will be amended suitably so as to allow shifting of bar hotels to a new premises only if the proposed hotel is provided with three-star classification and above issued by the Department of Tourism, Government of India. Fee for such transfer of licence will be increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.2,00,000.

As per Rule 19 of Kerala Foreign Liquor Rules, fee for reconstitution of partnership deed will be increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000. There will be a condition that reconstituting bar hotels will have minimum two-star classification issued by the Tourism Department, Government of India. The licence fee of FL3 bars will be enhanced from Rs.18 lakh to Rs.22 lakh. The rental of FL1 shops will be enhanced from Rs.51.27 lakh to Rs.63 lakh. The rental of FL11 shops will be enhanced from Rs.3 lakh to Rs.4 lakh. The rental of FL4A will be enhanced from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.6 lakh.

In order to ensure speedy disposal of pending Abkari cases and to enhance revenue to the Government, Abkari offences will be compounded by classifying them as major and minor offences.

Abkari offences involving arrack above 25 litres, wash above 100 litres and duty paid IMFL above 50 litres will be treated as major offences. Abkari offences involving lesser quantities will be treated as minor offences.

All offences involving spirit and illicit foreign liquor will not be compounded.

All offences registered under Section 56 of the Abkari Act also will be compounded. Minor offences will be compounded by realisation of Rs.10,000 from each accused.

The fine imposed for violation, by way of reconstitution/alteration/modification without permission of Excise Commissioner, of any deed, on the strength of which any licence is granted will be enhanced from Rs.25,000 to Rs.5 lakh.

Heritage Hotels classified by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, will be eligible for FL11 licences.

Single and two-star hotels functioning at tourist centres approved by Taxes Department will also be eligible for FL11 licences.

In addition to the existing eight tourist centres, Cherai in Ernakulam and Athirappilly in Thrissur will also be included in the list of tourist centres for issuing FL11 licence.

The distance rule for Heritage Hotels classified by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, will be 50 metres as in the case of four-star and five-star hotels.

The fee for various licences issued under the distillery and warehouse rules, foreign liquor compounding, blending and bottling rules and brewery rules will be enhanced.

The power to issue FL6 licence will be delegated to the Excise Commissioner. The fee for the same will be enhanced from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000.

The State Government will take steps for the production of foreign liquor in the public sector, and its sale through outlets in the State run by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation.

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