Women on warpath over relocation of liquor shops

Kurnool: In protest against owners of bars adjacent to highways relocating liquor shops in residential colonies, women united under the banner of the district committee of Tribal Student Federation (TSF) on Wednesday took out rallies and demanded bar owners not to shatter peace in the residential colonies. They contend that opening liquor shops in the colonies would ruin their families.

Highlights:

• Supreme Court recently set June 30 as the deadline to relocate the bars adjacent to national highways
• Bar and liquor shop owners prefer to relocate further deep in residential colonies
• Liquor shop owners are caught between the Supreme Court verdict and agitation by women

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court recently set June 30 as the deadline to relocate the bars adjacent to national highways—beyond 500 meters from the urban roads and 250 meters from rural roads. As state and national highways crisscross in many mandals of the district, the bar and liquor shop owners preferred relocate further deep in residential colonies.

The owners of two liquor shops and two bars at Chennamma Circle in the city tried to relocate them in residential colonies that are half kilometer away from the highway. They are prepared to get petty shops vacated and pay higher rent for shops near Shirdi Sai temple, mosque and Santiniketan School.

In colonies of Kalluru, adjacent to highway, there was a commotion in the colony as the residents are tightening their belts to prepare for a showdown. Flexi banners requesting building owners and builders not to allow liquor shops and bars on their premises are thought-provoking. The residents went door-to-door as part of a signature campaign to prevent relocation of liquor shops and bars in their colonies.

Since 40 years, people of residential colonies have been leading a peaceful life. The colonies’ residents have been questioning the owners as to how they can open bars and liquor shops in the vicinity of shrines and schools. Women are on a war-path protesting against the relocation in NGOs Colony in Nandyal. They pulled down structures being built to open liquor shops and said that it is only a beginning. They warned them of severe repercussions.

They are warning the state government of paying a heavy price for the move. Many circles in the district became addas for drunkards and women dread to travel along the road in these circles after 6 pm. Children, including girls, are moving about freely in residential colonies, they said and asked the liquor shop owners not to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere. They have been appealing to the builders and house owners not to encourage the liquor shop owners.

The irate women have been warning the bar owners of severe repercussions if they ignore their warning and set up shops in the colonies. The liquor shop owners are caught between the Supreme Court verdict and agitation by women. They have been appealing to the Excise officials for a solution. The Excise officials are scratching their heads not knowing what to do. For the 204 liquor shops in Kurnool, Adoni and Nandyal divisions of the district, over 4,850 persons have applied for licenses.

There are 309 shops in municipal areas, 144 in Kurnool municipal corporation limits and 99 mandal headquarters. Through bids, the Excise department earned Rs 20 crore revenue, which is less than the last year’s receipts. Even as the women are on a war-path on relocation of liquor shops in residential colonies, seven women are allotted liquor shops through lucky dip on Wednesday.

By D Harikishan