Even while welcoming the decision of the government to permanently close down 500 Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) retail outlets across the State from Sunday onwards, the absence of even a single shop in Salem district in the list has come as a big shock to the residents of the district.
Gandhian Sasiperumal, who hailed from Salem district, lost his life while fighting for total prohibition in the State in July last year. But the government preferred not to select even a single shop for closure in Salem district much to the disbelief of the supporters of Sasiperumal and the movements fighting for total prohibition in the State.
The government ordered the closure of 500 Tasmac shops across the State from Sunday.
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The government directed the local TASMAC authorities to identify the retail outlets which were functioning in public places, near the places of worship and educational institutions in all the districts. Official sources said that a total of 19 shops were recommended by the local authorities for closure in Namakkal district. Of them, the government ordered the closure of 11 shops functioning in Manikkatipudur; Vaazhavanthi; Janganayakkanpatti; Karattupalayam; Bodinayakkanpatti; Periyasozhipalayam; Kalappanayakkanpatti; Kumaramangalam; Periyamanali; and the shop functioning on the Salem road in Namakkal town. Sources said that the local authorities launched a survey and identified 19 shops in Salem district. But, the government did not identify even a single shop for permanent closure.