Government should close down belt shops by June 30

Ongole: A round-table conference was organsied in the town on Wednesday by the ‘Madyaniyatrana Udyama Committee’ in which speakers demanded that the state government close down all the belt shops numbering more than 50,000 that were being run illegally in the state by June 30.

The round-table meeting took up issues relating to the closing of belt shops and control of alcohol sales. The meeting was coordinated by the convenor of Madyaniyatrana Udyama Committee V Lakshmana Reddy while the district CPM secretary Punati Anjaneyulu, district CPI secretary K Aruna, DCC president Eeda Sudhakar Reddy, YSRCP official spokesperson Battula Brahmananda Reddy and others participated.

The round-table passed resolutions statign that the government should remove the belt shops by June 30, remove bars and wine shops at a distance below 500 metres from national highways and 220 metres away from state highways immediately. The speakers urged the people to dial the 100 toll-free number or the Excise Commissioner on 9515124852 to complain about the illegal sale of liquor.

The leaders alleged that the government was trying to convert the state highways into town roads to avoid implementing the Supreme Court guidelines. The roundtable decided to organise a Madyavyatireka Aikyavedika meeting on July 9 to decide about the future plan of agitation.