KODAIKANAL
More than 200 people, including women and schoolchildren, from Vellaparai village staged a demonstration and observed fast at Perumal Malai junction near here on Wednesday, condemning opening of a TASMAC shop at their village.
Braving sharp showers, the villagers sat on the roadside and continued their protest. They said despite their repeated appeals to the district administration, officials opened the TASMAC outlet at the village, which caused problems for them.
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Women going for farm work and schoolgirls found it difficult to cross the liquor shop to reach the nearest bus stop, said S. Perumalsamy, a protester. “Why should the government be so adamant in opening the shop at our village against our wish? The officials did not respect public sentiment,” said R. Murugeswari, another villager.
The liquor outlet, which had been functioning on the State Highway at Perumal Malai junction, was closed following the Supreme Court order. When the officials tried to shift it to Vellaparai, the villagers protested the move and brought it to the knowledge of Collector T.G. Vinay.
When the villagers submitted a petition to the Collector at a grievances day meeting, he assured them that the shop would not be set up there, and advised the officials concerned to shift it to some other area, the protesters said.
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The officials shifted the shop to Kodaikanal, but shifted it to Vellaparai recently, said J. Sumathi, another protester.
Later, the villagers withdrew the agitation as the officials assured them that the shop would be closed and sought 30 days’ time to shift it to some other place.
Earlier on Monday, a group of tipplers from Perumal Malai submitted a petition to the Collector, requesting him not to close the TASMAC shop at Vellaparai. Otherwise, they would have to travel long distances to get liquor, they said.