Not worried about financial loss on bar closure: Chandy

Says his govt is not bothered about 'considerable loss' of revenue from sales of spirits, but says the social loss is '10 times more than that'

Continuing to defend the decision to close down bars in Kerala, chief minister Oommen Chandy today said he did not care about the financial loss but was worried about the social impact of liquor consumption.

Speaking to reporters at the airport here, Chandy said his government was not bothered about the "considerable loss" of revenue from sales of spirits, but said the social loss was "10 times more than that."

"We will have a considerable loss in revenue but we don't care. The revenue (from liquor sales is) Rs 7,000-9,000 crore but the loss is 10 times more; social loss, damage to families... So, we do not care about the financial loss faced by closing down bars," he said.

Kerala government had recently started moving towards prohibition, deciding to close all bars in the state except those functioning in five star hotels. The Supreme Court had ordered status quo till September 30.

State set to be plastic-free
An ambitious programme to make Kerala free from plastic waste will be launched by the government through an anti-plastic drive on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2 .

As part of the campaign, plastic waste accumulated in houses and institutions will be collected under the aegis of urban civic bodies and would be recycled for good use.

Chandy will inaugurate the drive at Martyrs Column here on the day.