Meenambakkam says no to proposed Tasmac outlet

Residents say site chosen very close to a school; write to Collector

The narrow bylane of Kumaran Street, where a new Tasmac outlet is proposed to be set up, is frequented by several schoolchildren in the locality — Photo: M. Srinath

The Madras High Court order against the functioning of liquor outlets along national highways in the State has sent Tasmac officials scrambling for alternative venues.

A number of shops along GST Road downed shutters a few weeks ago and shifted base to Pallavaram–Thoraipakkam Radial Road.

However, residents of Pallavaram, Peerkankaranai, Chromepet and Manimangalam protested the opening of liquor outlets in their neighbourhoods and met with success too, with the government bowing to their demands.

The latest to join in the protest are residents of Meenambakkam following a proposal to open a Tasmac outlet in a narrow bylane in the heart of the locality.

The residents are incredulous the location of the outlet — on Kumaran Street — was chosen despite the site being very close to GST Road and more importantly, an educational institution — the Government Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School.

“Many of our children walk through the narrow bylane to reach their school. How can we accept the opening of a liquor outlet there?” said S. Raji, a resident of the locality.

Ward councillor K. Jayanthi said even when Meenambakkam was a town panchayat, prior to its merger with Chennai Corporation in 2011, there were only two Tasmac outlets in the neighbourhood, and those too shut shop later.

A representation against the opening of the outlet had been sent to the Kancheepuram district collector and the police, she said.

Tasmac officials said they were yet to receive any complaints against the opening of any outlets. However, they were unsure of any proposal to shift an outlet from elsewhere in Kancheepuram district to Meenambakkam, an official said.