At a time when the agitations are taking place across the State against opening of liquor shops, the gram sabha meeting held at Veeranampalayam village panchayat has sprung a surprise passing a resolution to open a liquor outlet in the area. When contacted, the Block Development Officer (Kangayam Block) said the resolution was passed subsequent to a petition given by a group of 15 people during the gram sabha meeting held there on May Day and no one else gave any petition to counter the same.
It was said that a group of villagers later expressed their displeasure of opening any liquor shop in the area but the same was raised only after the resolution was passed.
‘Officials clarify’
However, official sources clarified that mere passing of any resolution need not end up in any decision to open any liquor outlet as such requisitions were only the demands of the people.
“At the moment, the said area did not have any liquor sales outlet”, sources pointed out.
Since the elected civic body did not exist, the special officer designated for the civic body convened the gram sabha and the eldest person from among the villagers who were present for the meeting presided over the procedures of the meeting, the official sources added.
