Brewery issue: Congress blocks Puthussery panchayat office

Congress workers laid siege to the Puthussery grama panchayat office in Palakkad on Thursday (October 30, 2025), opposing the panchayat’s decision to supply river water for the disputed brewery project in Elapully grama panchayat.

On Tuesday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] had laid siege to the Elapully grama panchayat office without permitting the panchayat president and officials to hold a meeting to decide on the legal formalities against Oasis Commercial, the company chosen by the State government to set up the brewery in Elapully.

As the Congress-ruled Elapully grama panchayat opposed the brewery move, the CPI(M)-ruled Puthussery panchayat came forward to supply river water for the brewery, further deepening the controversy over the liquor plant ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

Protesting in front of the Puthussery grama panchayat office on Thursday, the Congress alleged that the governing body, by agreeing to supply water to the brewery, had prioritised the brewery’s needs over those of local farmers who rely heavily on river water for agriculture. The Congress demanded that the governing body revoke its decision to permit Oasis Commercial to collect water from the Walayar and Korayar rivers. The governing body took the decision to supply river water by overcoming the opposition of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members.

People living on the banks of the Korayar river took part in the Congress protest.

The brewery sanctioned by the State government in Elapully evoked widespread criticism from different sections. The Communist Party of India (CPI), one of the ruling parties, also came out against the decision. It alleged that the decision would jeopardise food safety and was against the interests of the farmers.