TIRUNELVELI
Public ire against liquor shops functioning in their areas continued this Monday too, as several petitions were submitted to Collector M. Karunakaran in this regard during the weekly grievance redressal meeting.
A group of children from Melapavoor submitted a petition seeking the Collector’s intervention for closure of the liquor shop in their area. They said the villagers held talks with the Tenkasi Tahsildar recently after the residents closed down the liquor shop at Melapavoor. As the Tahsildar assured them that the shop would be shifted to some other place within 30 days, they gave up their agitation.
“However, the shop was not shifted, and hence the villagers revived their agitation. Now, the Tahsildar wants the villagers to wait for another 25 days. The villagers, especially women and children, have been protesting against the shop for the past few days. The Collector should order permanent closure of the liquor shop,” they said.
Another petition submitted by ‘Thamizhar Narpani Kazhagam’ functionaries sought closure of the liquor shop functioning near Maharaja Nagar railway level crossing.
“A drunk two-wheeler rider hit a retired government employee near the liquor shop on May 14 last, and the victim died in hospital. Since the liquor shop is creating problems in the area, where a farmers’ market is located, it should be closed,” said S.K.T. Kanmani Maaveeran, coordinator of the Kazhagam.
A group of social activists submitted a petition seeking action by the Collector against District Club near All India Radio where consumption of liquor and gambling were allegedly allowed.
“When the club premises were allowed to consume liquor without appropriate permit, the then Collector C. Samayamurthy asked the District Revenue to conduct an inspection there. Three rooms were sealed on March 19, 2013 after liquor bottles were found stocked there. Now, children are visiting the club for tennis practice along with other visitors,” said Abdul S. Rahman of ‘Satta Panchayat Iyakkam’.
Old age pension
A group of 12 senior citizens from Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram submitted a petition to the Collector complaining that they were not given old age pension since February last. “The beneficiaries, who were getting old age pension through a bank’s agent, have not got the assistance since February last,” they said.
