The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Residents seek Minister's help to close liquor shop

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Saturday, Feb 12, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Residents seek Minister's help to close liquor shop

Residents wondered as how officials gave permission, writes L. Srikrishna

LOCATION CRITICISED:The TASMAC outlet onMelur Main Road.

A state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor shop-cum-bar attached outlet (bearing number 5273), which was opened about 10 days ago, on Melur Main Road has come in for public criticism.

The locals said that they had submitted petitions to Union Minister M.K. Alagiri, seeking his intervention to close it immediately.

Shopkeepers and residents are worried as late evenings are not only “dark” but also “dangerous” for them to move around in the locality. The behaviour of drunkards not only irked shopkeepers, but also caused problems to motorists.

Shopkeepers and residents wondered as how the officials accorded permission. “When the Government says that liquor shop should not be open near schools/colleges, near places of worship among others, how the officials gave permission for opening it remained a billion dollar question, they fumed.

Many residents on Kadalakara Street (adjacent to the TASMAC outlet) complained that during nights, customers knocked the doors of some residents seeking liquor bottles as they were under the impression that the TASMAC outlet bar was situated on the side road.

“We have submitted a petition to the Collector at the grievance redressal day meeting at the Collector's office” and hope some positive action would be there, they prayed.

Womenfolk in the area said that they were unable to come to the market to purchase after 7 p.m. as the liquor shop not only caused unpleasant smell, but also the behaviour of some men in public was rude and shocking. Customers visiting the TASMAC bar parked their two-wheelers on the road side, giving no space for pedestrians to move around. Similarly, during unloading of liquor bottles too, there was heavy traffic snarl on the busy road, the shopkeepers said.

The TASMAC outlet is so small and congested that lack of ventilation and poor sanitation facilities forced the customers to use the rear-end as temporary toilets that give residents a harrowing experience. Public expect Mr. Alagiri to come to their rescue and close the outlet immediately. Senior DMK functionaries said that they would also take it up with the Minister.

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