An IMFL retail (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) outlet of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC)located near the entrance of a residential complex, Narmada Apartments, on Third Cross Street, Raja Annamalai Puram, is proving to be a nuisance.
The residents are upset that Government agencies have not taken any step to shift the wine shop, despite repeated pleas for more than 10 years.
Customers to the liquor outlet park their cycles, cars and two-wheelers in a haphazard manner in front of the shop, as no space has been allotted for parking.
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As a good part of the busy road is occupied by these vehicles, free flow of traffic is hampered on both Canal Bank Road and Third Cross Street.
“Vehicular traffic comes to a standstill in the evening hours on Canal Bank Road due to the haphazard parking on the Third Cross Street,” a resident complained.
“The customers throw away plastic sachets, bottles, and food leftovers near the compound wall and entrance of the apartment,” say residents.
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“Problems begin in the evening, when there is an increase in the number of customers. They consume alcohol in the open. The tipplers ease out on road causing embarrassment to the public,” they added.
“We cannot leave the doors and windows open in the evening hours. The stench is unbearable. People who pass through Canal Bank Road have to bear the offensive smell,” a resident said.
Misusing common area
“The outlet is an unauthorised structure. The promoter of the apartment constructed a building in the common area of the apartment and lent it on rent for a popular ice-cream brand to be used as a parlour. When the ice-cream parlour vacated the place, the promoter fenced another six-feet from the common area, extended the building and gave it for rent for the TASMAC-run IMFL outlet,” the residents alleged.
We undertook signature campaigns from the residents of Canal Bank Road urging the Government agencies to shift the shop. No action has been taken till date. People find it difficult to take their vehicles outside the apartment because of the tipplers, who sleep at the apartment gate after consuming alcohol in excess, the residents complained.
“We constructed a Lord Vinayakar Temple at the entrance of the apartment and performed pujas twice a day. Ever since the State Government opened bars in liquor stores, we stopped performing pujas . Quarrels among drunkards have become a regular affair at the entrance of our apartment,” said a resident.
A resident of Canal Bank Road, R. Kalaiarasi, said that the drunken youth make fun of women and girls by passing lewd comments and making irritating noises. The shop is an inconvenience to the public, especially women, children and senior citizens, she added.
“After sunset, it is a common sight to find tipplers sitting on the road with a bottle and cigarette in their hands much to the discomfort of pedestrians,” Jeeva, a resident of Canal Bank Road said. Drunkards often quarrel among themselves and use foul language, he added.
A senior police official said, “Every half-an-hour, a beat policeman from E4 Abhiramapuram Police Station Booth patrols near the wine shop and arrest tipplers, who consume liquor in the open and prove to be a nuisance to others. We have instructed the TASMAC staff to close down the shutters after 10 p.m.”