It is now the turn of residents of Peerkankaranai Town Panchayat near Tambaram to protest the opening of a proposed liquor outlet of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation. The proposed move, according to residents, will be a sheer nuisance as it is located in the midst of a residential locality. Elected representatives of the town panchayat too are clearly on the sides of the residents. There has been an outrage from women in Kovilambakkam against the opening of a liquor outlet, but the Government had its way there.
In Irumbuliyur, women residents again were at the forefront of an agitation against the opening of a liquor outlet on Old GST Road. Here, women’s will power prevailed. There have been protests in many areas with residents urging the Kancheepuram District Administration and the police not to permit opening of new liquor outlets especially in the midst of a residential locality or very close to schools.
In Peerkankaranai it was proposed to open the outlet at building located right at the intersection of Srinivasan Street and Kamarajar High Road. It is surrounded by private and government schools and according to an elected representative, nothing less than 5,000 students would pass by the stretch every day.
The building for the proposed outlet has been spruced, its walls have got a fresh coat of paint and its floor has been leveled and according to residents arrangements were done in such a manner that it was ready to be made operational at the earliest.
“The shop is just a few paces away from the office of the town Panchayat.
The elected representatives and the administration should never allow the outlet to open,” said Amlu, a resident. She argued that there were a couple of shops on GST Road around Peerkankaranai police station and another near the level crossing at Perungalathur railway station and there was simply no need for a fourth shop in their area.
Women residents and members of self help groups with support from elected residents would take to the streets if the outlet were to be opened, she told reporters on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, a section of residents initiated a signature campaign against the opening of the outlet. Elected representatives and staff of the town panchayat assured them that they would not permit the opening of the liquor outlet against their wishes. The issue was also presented before Animal Husbandry Minister T.K.M.Chinnayya, who is also Tambaram MLA.
The residents are of the view that liquor outlets in the heart of commercial areas and in the midst of localities caused severe problems to all. The generation of disposable and non-degradable waste in public places was a nuisance and an eyesore. Garbage generated in these shops are set on fire, for instance below the road over bridge in Tambaram, pointed out K.Elumalai, a resident.
