Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Puttaparthi sanctity to be maintained

B. Chandrashekhar

Unofficial ban in place in on liquor, non-vegetarian food

ANANTAPUR: The Police and Excise Departments have initiated an exercise to maintain the sanctity of Puttaparthi in the district by unofficially banning liquor and non-vegetarian food since the last one week.

To make the impact more meaningful, the `ban' is also being implemented in all habitations in a radius of about 10 km of Puttaparthi. Such a ban is in force officially at Tirumala currently. The police and excise officials are hopeful of implementing the `ban' in Puttaparthi successfully with the cooperation of devotees and tourists.

Fast buck

Though there are no licensed liquor shops in Puttaparthi, almost all the brands of liquor used to be provided to customers in most of the restaurants so far. Non-vegetarian food, however, was available in all hotels outside the Prashanti Nilayam campus. Several `dhabas' and restaurants in and around Puttaparthi used to make a fast buck during the peak flow of visitors by supplying liquor. As a result, the visitors who used to crave for liquor used to land up mostly in restaurants in the vicinity of the spiritual town.

Officials of the two departments have taken up a campaign of educating the hotel and restaurant owners as well as those running the belt (liquor) shops. It is estimated that some 15 belt shops were operating in and around Puttaparthi so far. They are planning to make the ban permanent, though it has been initiated keeping in view the 81st birthday celebrations of Satya Saibaba falling on November 23.

Meanwhile, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is likely to be the chief guest at the convocation of Sri Satya Sai deemed university this year on November 22 and the birthday on November 23. The President is also likely to inaugurate an indoor sports complex.

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