TIRUNELVELI
Demanding closure of the newly opened liquor shop in their village, people of Keezha Vadakarai near Kalakkad submitted a petition to Collector Sandeep Nanduri on Monday.
They said on January 8 the villagers submitted a petition to the Collector urging him not to open the liquor shop near their village. However, the shop was opened on Mangammal Salai at Keezha Vadakarai.
When a protest against the liquor shop triggered tension in the village, police pacified the villagers promising that they would convey their sentiments to the officials concerned and recommend closure of the shop.
“However, the shop is doing brisk business to cause fear and panic among the villagers, particularly women and school and college girls from Keezha Vadakarai, Mela Vadakarai and V.K. Nagar. Moreover, places of worship are located near this shop,” the petitioners said.
‘Release water’
In a petition, farmers of Rajakkalmangalam appealed to the Collector to ensure release of water from Kodumudiyar dam or Vadakku Pachchaiyar dam for 20 days to save standing paddy. The farmers, who had raised paddy on over 240 acres covered under Rajakkalmangalam tank, were left in a spicy situation as the waterbody had dried up.
Drinking water
Naam Tamilar Katchi office-bearers, led by S. Sivaraj, said the 5,000-odd residents of Maruthamputhur panchayat were now getting water from Sankarankovil Combined Drinking Water Scheme once a week. As each family is getting only five pots of drinking water a week, the Collector should ensure sufficient water supply, they said.
Dance artistes’ plea
Dance artistes, dressed up like actors, submitted a petition to the Collector seeking permission to conduct programmes at least till 10 p.m. They said families of 800 artistes of 45-odd dance troupes were starving as the police were denying permission to conduct dance programmes during temple festivals even till 10 p.m.
Burial ground
In their petition, members of Simirna Assemblies of God Church from Vannarpet here said they had been using the burial ground owned by the church at Manimurtheeswaram for the past 39 years. A portion of the burial ground had been encroached upon by a few individuals, and they were preventing burial of bodies of the members of the church there.
Cab drivers’ complaint
Cab drivers, in their petition, said the existing norm of ‘8-hour-a-day work’ should be revised as it was detrimental to tourism industry. Cancellation of driving licences after vehicle checks by the police should be stopped. The tourist vehicles should be exempted from installing speed governors, they said.
